Attention Prevention!! The hot topic for 2025

‘Prevention is better than cure’ is a well-worn adage that rings particularly true today for employers facing a cocktail of health-related headwinds.

An ageing workforce, stubbornly high NHS waiting lists and the relentless rise in medical care / health insurance costs are all making benefit budgets having to work harder. This puts greater value on proactive thinking to anticipate and avoid issues before they arise. For benefits & rewards teams that means early intervention in employee health to reduce absence and maintain productivity.

Sound familiar? You are not alone. According to recent research 59% of UK businesses are already using specific health benefits to prevent employee absence with 70% looking to focus on this particular area in future.

So what exactly are they doing? Well, have a quick look round Marketplace and you’ll find solutions for cancer screening, allergy testing, occupational vaccinations, neurodiversity coaching and fitness. All with an emphasis on prevention – or at least nipping problems in the bud. And, being Zest, a lot of these services are digital-first platforms, cleverly designed to bypass the inefficiencies of unnecessary in-person appointments.

Our latest solution (DocHQ Prevent), for example, offers remote physical therapy to address MSK risks in the workplace and can be used anywhere, anytime from any device with a camera. It’s a low-cost, scalable and personalised experience, combining AI-driven exercise guidance and real-time feedback to support employees, particularly in physically demanding or sedentary roles.

Users can select from an extensive library of workouts from 5 to 25 minutes with each session scored on adherence, form, and consistency. The platform uses habit-forming reminders (e.g. “You’re on a 4-day streak – keep it going!”) and nudges when users miss a session. Rest days are automatically built in, preventing overtraining, and promoting recovery. Depending on your package, Band 6 Chartered Physiotherapists and Level 3 Fitness Coaches can be accessed remotely, removing the need for travel or off-site appointments.

With Public Health England saying that – for every £1 invested in MSK prevention -employers will save £5 in claim costs and lost productivity, you’ll have plenty budget left over to spend on other rewards.

For more information about DocHQ, visit our dedicated Marketplace page here. You can also book a 25-minute online demo by getting in touch with our team.