Recruitment specialist sees rise in wellbeing offering uptake

Within eight weeks of going live with Sonder, 34 percent of Hays employees across the UK&I have activated the service – a six-fold uplift on Hays’ previous wellbeing offering. 

Prior to implementing Sonder, Hays had been using three separate resources to provide health and wellbeing support to its workforce of over 2,700 across 79 sites in the UK and Ireland: a digital doctor service for medical support, an employee assistance programme (EAP) and a wellbeing app to provide health-related guidance.

Restrictions on operational availability, usage caps, and confusion among employees over which offering to use, however meant that previous uptake of the services was low. With a small number of employees using the tools, Hays recognised the importance of addressing the shortcomings of the previous system. 

The Sonder app provides immediate, 24/7 support from a team of safety, medical, and mental health professionals who are accessible via Chat messaging or phone calls. At the touch of a button, individual employees and their immediate family members can quickly access the right care at the right time.

“Sonder is playing a big part in supporting our health and wellbeing strategy,” says Hannah Pearsall, head of wellbeing at Hays. “From providing reassurance to the parent of a sick child in the middle of the night, securing a GP appointment or helping a colleague achieve a healthier worklife balance – the 24/7 support available is a real gamechanger for our staff. By providing a single point of entry, without any time or qualifying restrictions, our people are getting the right support at the right time – creating a happier and healthier workforce in the process.” 

“Organisations that invest in employee health, safety and wellbeing as a driver of growth are making the shift from reactive to preventative support,” says Craig Cowdrey, CEO and co-founder, Sonder. “I’m thrilled that Hays is embracing this approach through Sonder’s early intervention platform and I'm excited about the impact already achieved."