The Value of Employee Health Benefits During the Coronavirus Pandemic in Hungary

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of employers and employees worldwide. This is why it is important for HRM to look at employee health from a new perspective. In our research, we investigated whether health has been valorised in employees' minds as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and, if they could choose health benefits as fringe benefits, to what extent they would prefer health-related benefits. Our primary questionnaire survey used a nonrepresentative sample (N=250). The main objective of our research was to understand the importance of health and the opinions of individuals aged 18 and over with an active working life in Hungary on health-related fringe benefits during the pandemic. The data was collected through an online, anonymous questionnaire. Their health status at the time of completing the questionnaire was more important than before the COVID-19. 85.6% of respondents have not introduced any new health-related benefits at work in 2020 and 41.2% do not have any, even though 81.2% of respondents would like to have some kind of health-related benefits that they consider useful and important. 70.4% of respondents would opt for dental check-ups and treatment. More than 50% would also use some kind of general or complex managerial screenings.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of employers and employees worldwide. This is why it is important for HRM to look at employee health from a new perspective. In our research, we investigated whether health has been valorised in employees' minds as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and, if they could choose health benefits as fringe benefits, to what extent they would prefer health-related benefits. Our primary questionnaire survey used a nonrepresentative sample (N=250). The main objective of our research was to understand the importance of health and the opinions of individuals aged 18 and over with an active working life in Hungary on health-related fringe benefits during the pandemic. The data was collected through an online, anonymous questionnaire. Their health status at the time of completing the questionnaire was more important than before the COVID-19. 85.6% of respondents have not introduced any new health-related benefits at work in 2020 and 41.2% do not have any, even though 81.2% of respondents would like to have some kind of health-related benefits that they consider useful and important. 70.4% of respondents would opt for dental check-ups and treatment. More than 50% would also use some kind of general or complex managerial screenings.