A third of businesses do not prioritise the health and wellbeing of overseas employees – risking the happiness of employees and jeopardising success of assignments

Nearly a third of businesses (32%) do not prioritise the health and wellbeing of their employees abroad, according to new research¹ from the international employee benefits experts at Everywhen. Furthermore, just 60% of employers stated that the safety of overseas employees is a top priority.

This is a worrying result for the employees themselves, but also for their employers, who may be failing to comply with regulations, and possibly failing in their duty of care. Combined with the fact that 26% of employers worry that their employees will be unhappy and want to return home, employers who take action are likely to see positive outcomes all round.

Sarah Dennis, head of international for Everywhen, said: “Health, safety and wellbeing – all areas that are also connected to the happiness of a workforce - should be the top priorities for supporting all employees, whether they are based in the UK or overseas. However, it is arguably even more important to prioritise these areas for employees based abroad where there may be less readily available support and employees can be isolated. With this in mind, employers may wish to review the support they offer to overseas staff and take a close look at what is required by each country and advised for fostering wellbeing.”

Risks associated with working abroad will differ by country and region, and it’s vital that employers are aware of these and offer appropriate support for the safety of their workforce, from guidance on travelling alone to protocols on what to do in an emergency.

Similarly, the mandatory health and wellbeing support that employers are obligated to provide for overseas employees will also differ for each region and every country. This can prove complicated but this does not mean, however, that the issues should be overlooked, rather, that expert advice may be needed to help ensure employers comply with the rules of each country in which employees are based.

The research shows the importance of the assignment itself, with 47% saying fulfilling the business objectives is a top priority in supporting employees abroad, and 41% stating career progression is a top priority.

Given the time and money it takes to set up an employee overseas it is understandable that an employer is invested in the success of the assignment, but this should not overtake the priorities of health, safety and wellbeing. In fact, supporting health and wellbeing is very likely to improve the success of a posting abroad,” says Sarah Dennis.

The research went on to investigate the concerns employers have regarding their employees working abroad. Over a third (35%) are concerned about the mental health and wellbeing of overseas employees, and an equal 35% are concerned about physical health and wellbeing. In addition, 34% have concerns about employees’ personal safety. It may seem at odds that employers are concerned for mental and physical health and personal safety, given 32% of businesses don’t prioritise the health and wellbeing of their overseas employees. The message here is: if employers are concerned about employees, support is available to assist them, and the business.  

 Health and wellbeing support is key to all-round mental and physical health, it supports the happiness of the employee and, therefore, is likely to have a positive impact on the success of their work too. This plays into the hands of the 26% of employers who are concerned that employees overseas may be unhappy and will want to return home, and the 19% of employers who are concerned that the assignment may not work out. Providing robust health and wellbeing support will promote overall wellbeing, thus helping with happiness. And healthy, happy employees tend to be more productive, increasing the success of the employee and the business.  

Sarah Dennis commented: “Employee happiness when working overseas is, and should be, a genuine concern for employers. Mental and physical health, along with the success of the placement and assignment, are all connected to employee happiness, and employers must, therefore, take a holistic approach to providing support that addresses all these areas.”