employee wellbeing trends
This blog will cover:
- Common health challenges for men
- How men’s health issues can impact work
- Ways occupational health can help
Men’s health often doesn’t get the attention it deserves, yet the statistics speak for themselves:
- Men’s life expectancy is nearly four years shorter than women’s.
- 1 in 5 men die before the age of 65.
- Around 15% of men in England experience a common mental health condition.
- Around three-quarters of all suicides in the UK are among men.
- Research suggests that men are less likely to seek help from healthcare services and may be more likely to engage in certain health risk behaviours, including smoking and harmful alcohol use.
Sources:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/mens-health-guidance. https://digital.nhs.uk/data. Men’s Health Strategy for England: call for evidence – GOV.UK https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/men-women-statistics
Common health challenges for men
Men can face a range of physical and mental health challenges that may affect both their wellbeing and their ability to thrive at work.
- Weight management – Busy lifestyles, poor diet and low levels of physical activity can contribute to weight gain and obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet, regular physical activity and moderating alcohol intake can help reduce the risk of a range of long-term health conditions.
- Diabetes – The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes continues to rise in the UK, with excess weight being a significant risk factor. Early identification, regular health checks and positive lifestyle changes can help reduce risk and support effective management of the condition.
- Heart health – Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death among men in the UK. Regular health checks, stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet and staying physically active can all help to reduce risk and support long-term heart health.
- Mental health – Mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression can affect anyone, yet men may be less likely to seek support. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under the age of 50 in the UK. Encouraging open conversations, reducing stigma and promoting access to support services are important steps in supporting men’s mental wellbeing.
- Musculoskeletal health – Musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, neck pain and joint problems, are among the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK. Encouraging regular movement, good ergonomic practices and early access to support can help prevent issues from worsening and support employees to remain in or return to work.
- Male cancers – Prostate, bowel and lung cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men. Raising awareness of symptoms and encouraging participation in screening programmes where appropriate can help improve early detection and outcomes.
How men’s health issues can impact work
Poor physical and mental health can affect an employee’s ability to perform at work and may have wider implications for organisations.
Physical health conditions can cause pain, fatigue or reduced mobility, which may make everyday tasks more difficult and increase the risk of workplace accidents or injuries.
Long-term conditions, such as diabetes, can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Symptoms and fluctuating blood glucose levels may affect energy, concentration and the need for regular breaks throughout the working day.
Mental health challenges, including stress, anxiety and depression, can affect motivation, concentration and decision-making. Some men may feel reluctant to seek support or discuss how they are feeling, which can lead to presenteeism, social withdrawal and reduced engagement at work.
Serious health conditions, such as cancer or other long-term illnesses, can have a significant impact on both emotional wellbeing and work ability. Employers who provide understanding, reasonable adjustments and appropriate support can make a meaningful difference to an employee’s experience and recovery.
How occupational health can help
Occupational health services can play an important role in supporting men’s health in the workplace while contributing to the long-term wellbeing of the wider workforce. Below are some examples of how our preventative interventions can support your men’s health strategy.
Proactive and engaging, health checks help identify early warning signs across key risk areas – including blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, bowel screening and heart health. Proactive health checks can help identify potential health risks early, providing employees with valuable insight into their health while helping organisations understand wider workforce trends.
At Optima Health, our onsite health checks include:
- Same-day results that can help employees better understand their health and take informed action where appropriate.
- Anonymous company reports which can highlight trends to help shape your wellbeing strategy. For example, it could highlight specific areas of men’s health prevalent in your business allowing you to focus efforts on targeted interventions.
- Flexible solutions for every budget, from mini “Know Your Numbers” campaigns to comprehensive cardiac and bowel screenings, you can tailor support to suit your requirements.
- Industry leading satisfaction levels, due to our health checks and assessments being engaging with fast results.
This involves a series of engaging onsite wellbeing activities to raise awareness of key health issues as part of your wellbeing programme. For example, health promotion activities could run in line with key men’s health awareness events, such as Movember during November, Men’s Health Week during June, and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month during March.
Some of the health promotion activities include:
- A reaction wall
- Smoothie bike challenge
- Wii fit activities
- Company sports days
- Alcohol awareness sessions
Early detection of prostate cancer can improve treatment options and outcomes. You can support your male employees to take a proactive approach to their health by utilising onsite PSA testing days.
Our tests are available for:
- Men aged 40+
- Those with a family history of prostate cancer
- Anyone showing potential symptoms
Testing involves a quick finger-prick blood sample, which is sent to a lab for analysis. Results are available within 10–14 days. PSA testing can help detect prostate cancer before symptoms appear and monitor changes in PSA levels that may signal early warning signs – supporting better outcomes through early action.
Webinars and workshops
Leverage the expertise of our health and wellbeing specialists to deliver workshops and webinars on topics such as mental health awareness, suicide first aid training, stress resilience, heart health and nutrition.
These not only raise awareness, but they educate employees on healthy lifestyle changes and can encourage proactive health management. They can also spark discussion and help break stigma around topics such as mental health and suicide prevention, helping to build a more supportive culture.
Sessions can also be tailored to line managers to boost their confidence and make them more effective at offering support and having sensitive conversations. It can also help managers be more aware of how to spot signs, which can be particularly important with things such as mental health and suicide.
Occupational health management referrals provide organisations with clear, evidence-based advice on supporting employees to remain in or return to work while managing a health condition. This may include advice on reasonable adjustments, phased returns and support in meeting obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Take a preventative approach to men’s health
Employers are in a unique position to support men’s health and encourage early intervention. By taking a proactive approach and leveraging the expertise of occupational health professionals, organisations can implement targeted initiatives that form part of a wider employee wellbeing strategy.
Supporting men’s health not only benefits individual employees, but can also contribute to improved engagement, reduced sickness absence and a healthier, more productive workforce.
Further resources
BBC – Former prime minister, Rishi Sunaki, talks about how targeted prostate cancer screening for those at high risk could save lives.
HR Magazine – Supporting men’s health at work.
This article was originally published in June 2024 and has been reviewed and updated for 2026.