Employers - Hearing Health Matters

Making Hearing Care a Workplace Priority

In the last decade, the business world has seen a significant and meaningful shift towards prioritising employee wellbeing, mental health, and healthcare in general. However, whilst a broad range of benefits and wellness services are now commonplace and available within many workplaces, one key area of health remains overlooked: ear care and hearing health.

Despite the widespread acknowledgment of hearing’s importance - 98% of surveyed UK adults value their hearing - few actually take proactive steps to protect it. According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), only 6% of adults in the UK have had a hearing test in the last five years without already having a diagnosed hearing loss. This means there is a significant gap between attitude and action, and it has real consequences for employees and businesses alike, and that there is a shortage of both education and access to appropriate hearing care.

Not just for noisy industries

When hearing care in the workplace is discussed, most people immediately think of typically noisy places; construction sites, factories, and similarly noisy environments where ear protection and regular hearing checks are legally required under Health & Safety regulations.

However, this compliance-only mindset when it comes to hearing means employees in quieter environments are continually overlooked when it comes to hearing health. Office workers, shop assistants, call centre agents, and backroom staff are rarely considered, even though they face subtle but cumulative threats to their hearing from everyday sounds, headsets, and long-term exposure to less obvious noise.

The reality is that noise surrounds us everywhere. It’s not just about the obviously loud settings where there is the likes of heavy machinery, but through public transport, shared office spaces, constant digital notifications, background music, and, perhaps most commonly, the prolonged use of headphones and headsets which are now essential to both modern work and modern commuting.

Why businesses can't afford to ignore hearing health

Neglecting employee hearing health comes at a price. Untreated hearing issues don’t just affect the individuals, they negatively impact communication, productivity, and engagement across teams. Employees who struggle with even mild hearing challenges (and many don’t even know about it) may withdraw socially, misunderstand instructions, or face avoidable stress, all of which can negatively impact their morale, performance and job satisfaction.

The World Health Organization estimates that unaddressed hearing loss costs the global economy billions annually, not only in healthcare and educational support, but also through lost productivity and lower employee morale. With people working longer into their lives and personal audio technology embedding itself deeper in daily routines, the number of employees experiencing hearing challenges is only set to grow.

Why wait until it goes wrong?

Unlike toothache or blurred vision, hearing loss often develops gradually, without obvious discomfort. This progression can continue unnoticed for many years, meaning individuals don’t realise the changes, and continue to unconsciously adapt, delaying intervention until the way they communicate or their quality of life is unmanageable. Many still believe hearing loss is simply a part of ageing; an assumption that stops preventative strategies from being adopted earlier.

Yet, hearing is closely connected to broader aspects of wellbeing. Ears aren’t just for hearing; they play a key role in balance, cognitive function, and mental health. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to social isolation, depression, and even an elevated risk of cognitive decline, including conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Early detection through routine checks can significantly help employees, preserving both their social and professional participation and their overall quality of life.

Making hearing care a business priority

So, how can businesses lead the way in normalising hearing care for all employees, regardless of their role or environment?

·  Integrate ear care into wellbeing programmes: Make hearing checks as routine as eye exams or dental visits, available to all staff and not just those in noisy settings. Annual or biannual assessments can catch issues early, provide reassurance, and normalise the conversation around hearing. Using companies such as Workplace Ear Care to conveniently bring these checks on-site provides an accessible service for all employees.

·  Educate employees: Run workshops or distribute guides on safe listening practices, and healthy hearing habits, especially for those using headsets and earphones frequently or as a prerequisite of their role. Awareness is the first step to prevention.

·  Use technology: Encourage safe listening habits. There are devices and applications that can monitor or protect hearing, such as apps that track sound exposure or headsets with built-in volume controls.

·  Encourage policy change: Advocate for hearing checks to be standard in employee wellbeing programmes – not just in occupational health assessments - just like eye tests, dental checks, diabetes and blood pressure checks are.

The benefits for both business and staff

Investing in hearing health shouldn’t be considered a box-ticking exercise. The benefits can be felt far beyond simple compliance:

·  Improved productivity and communication: Employees with healthy hearing interact more confidently, participate more fully in meetings, and make fewer mistakes due to miscommunication.

·  Reduced stress and absenteeism: Addressing hearing issues reduces workplace frustration and the potential for stress-related absence.

·  Better employee retention and morale: Staff who feel genuinely cared for are more loyal, motivated, and likely to recommend their workplace to others.

·  Early intervention saves future costs: Preventative care is almost always cheaper than treating advanced hearing loss, which may require expensive interventions and prolonged support.

·  Reputation as a responsible employer: Leading on employee wellbeing sends a powerful message to current and prospective talent, helping your business stand out in a competitive market.

What can business owners do?

As business owners and leaders, the message is clear: don’t wait for problems to surface before taking action. Start the conversation about hearing health now. By embedding routine hearing checks and education into your wellbeing programmes, you are helping create an environment where every employee, young or old, in a quiet office or on a busy shop floor can thrive, communicate, and feel included.

Ask yourself:

·  How does your organisation currently address hearing health, if at all? What barriers might be preventing you from doing more?

·  Could you make hearing checks as routine and stigma-free as vision or dental checks for your staff?

·  What would be the impact on your team’s productivity, inclusivity, and overall wellbeing if you took the lead on offering accessible ear care at work?

By prioritising hearing health for all, businesses not only protect their most valuable asset - their people - but can also unlock a clearer path to a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.

Click here to get in touch with us to find out how we can help you and your company.

Written by David Miller, Co-Founder of Workplace Ear Care