11 Nov 2025

Unum report: Healthy Workforce, Thriving Economy: Backing Britain’s SMEs

This study draws on conversations with leaders across industry and a survey over 2,010 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) wellbeing decision makers across the UK.

It finds that UK SMEs are losing £29 billion a year due to employee sickness, but also underfunding wellbeing.

Just 6% of SMEs and 3% of micro businesses say government guidance on their wellbeing responsibilities is clear - despite the billions lost each year to employee sickness.

Read the full report to find out that:

27% of SMEs have no wellbeing budget at all.
58% agree that current taxation policies actively hinder their ability to invest in wellbeing initiatives.
66% would be more likely to invest in health-related benefits if stronger tax incentives were available.
57% say a more supportive regulatory environment would encourage greater investment in employee wellbeing.