LONDON, 28 May 2026 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has said findings from its UK Benefits and Trends Survey 2025, show that health and wellbeing strategies are increasingly being recognised as an essential priority by UK employers as the health needs of their workforces intensify.
Aon’s UK Benefits and Trends Survey 2025 surveyed 240 UK professionals working in human resources, reward, compensation, and benefits roles, representing companies of varying sizes and industries.
In Aon’s latest survey, 41 percent of respondents reported that they have a formalised health and wellbeing strategy in place, with a further 31 percent planning to implement one. At the same time, employee expectations around wellbeing support are rising. Aon’s Employee Sentiment Survey, also published in 2025, showed that the majority of employees believe their employer should play an active role in supporting health and wellbeing. But this is in line with employer views, with 94 percent of surveyed organisations strongly agreeing that they have a responsibility to influence employee health and wellbeing.
The survey findings also indicate that demand for private medical cover continues to increase in the UK, with respondents reporting that it is placing significant pressure on the quality of the claims experience and pricing. Nearly a quarter of employers (23 percent) have introduced or increased the excess on their medical policy in the last five years. Even so, the survey shows employers remain committed to ensuring their health benefits remain fit for purpose. More than a quarter (28 percent) of organisations have enhanced the benefits available within their medical schemes, while a further 15 percent plan to do so within the next 12–18 months. Neurodiversity benefits are among the most commonly reported of recent additions, with fertility benefits also gaining momentum.
Further highlights from the survey included:
- Health and wellbeing strategies are increasingly viewed as a necessity rather than a ‘nice to have’, underpinned by the need to measure effectiveness and ensure long-term sustainability.
- Wellbeing pillars most commonly incorporated into a health and wellbeing strategy are emotional/mental, physical, financial and social/community.
- Employers are reaffirming that people are their greatest asset, making proactive investment in health an important contributor to engagement and productivity.
- Organisations are adopting more innovative approaches to benefit design, including greater use of company-owned data, industry benchmarking and increased scrutiny around return on investment.
Stephanie Taylor, principal consultant in health and benefits in the UK for Aon, said:
“Employers are operating against a challenging UK healthcare backdrop, with worsening health across the population, an increasing prevalence of complex medical conditions and mounting pressure on the National Health Service. This is coupled with an aging workforce in which individuals are living and working longer - and we know that with age there is a higher likelihood of illness and need for healthcare. As a result, many employers are placing greater importance on supporting their employees’ health and wellbeing, recognising that it is critical to both workforce resilience and performance.
“Our survey revealed that nearly all organisations strongly agree that the employer has responsibility for influencing employee health and wellbeing. With rising healthcare demand, increasing costs and growing employee expectations, organisations are recognising that a clear, measurable health strategy is no longer optional.”
More information about Aon’s UK Benefits and Trends Survey 2025 is available here
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.
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