Employee demand for health support 'up 70 per cent in third lockdown '

UK employees experienced a surge in demand for GP services and carer support during each of the UK 's three lockdowns.

That 's according to the latest figures by the company behind Engage, the leading employee digital health and wellbeing app.

Since October 2020, the Engage app has had an average 200,000 user sessions, according to analysis by its developers and providers HIVE360, an employee benefits and outsourced payroll specialist.

The statistics reveal a 70 per cent jump in demand for the app 's personal doctor service during the third lockdown when compared to user numbers in lockdown two, as well as a 39 per cent rise in users accessing carer advice and support.

HIVE360, which operates extensively in the GLAA* and industrial recruitment sectors, has seen usage and take-up of Engage soar since the start of the pandemic.

During the first week of lockdown in March 2020, Engage had an unprecedented 273 per cent increase?in?demand for its?mental health support services.

David McCormack, HIVE360 CEO, said: “User numbers of our employee digital health and wellbeing app have shown sustained growth over the last 12-months, significantly recording an average of around 200,000 monthly user sessions since October 2020.

“With huge swathes of the UK 's working population combining full- or part-time work with caring for an unwell or disabled loved one, as well as home-schooling children throughout the lockdowns, the demands and pressures on this so-called 'sandwich ' generation that is looking after both young children and elderly relatives is at an unprecedented level.

“Perhaps it is unsurprising therefore that, the Engage app 's health section has recorded such huge jumps in demand.

“The number of people using its health, wellbeing and fitness advice has risen by as much as 300% since March last year.

“We have also recorded peaks in users that coincide with government announcements on changes to the Covid-19 restrictions - for instance, this was up by 265 per cent between October and November 2020, and 850 users visited the mental health support features in December 2020 when the new COVID-19 variant came to light and Christmas 'bubbles ' were cancelled.

“Analysis of the user data for the third lockdown suggest that UK workers are beginning to feel the strain and proactively seeking out support to manage their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

“Indeed, the growing dependence on working online and?fully digital has triggered an alarming?rise in?employee?stress, with a syndrome 'technostress ' - which?leads to anxiety, burnout and depression - topping the list of mental health issues. ”

HIVE360 's mobile, customisable engagement app and platform give employees access to a range of benefits and services, from a personal doctor, personal support helpline and care support, to gym memberships and high-street, lifestyle, dining and insurance discounts, along with access to their digital payslips and a real-time workplace pension dashboard.

HIVE360 is a?*Gangmasters?and?Labour?Abuse Authority (GLAA) license holder and corporate member of?Inspiring Workplaces.