Is your return to work procedure fit for purpose?

 

When employers were asked about their role in employees' return to work after illness, 82% agreed that they played an important part. 

 

Yet according to researchers from Aviva only 5% of those employing more than 100 people don't have set procedures in place to achieve this. And when we look at the larger employers, just 38% offer private healthcare. 

 

The findings from Aviva's January survey of just over 500 UK employers show quite a gap between aspiration and reality. 

 

The reality is that although private healthcare can be seen as a perk, in actuality the ability to see a mental health professional, physiotherapist or private GP can often be a lot less expensive, and cause a lot less disruption, than having a staff member go off sick. Or, worse, leave on ill health grounds taking all their knowledge and expertise in the company with them. 

 

Our own clients at Verve Healthcare can see how it's more cost effective to keep people well rather than (just) treat them when they are ill. A proactive approach can nip escalating issues in the bud. 

 

So why don't 62% of employers provide private healthcare? Our Verve On Demand service is a pay-as-you-go service where employers only pay for the appointments their staff use, so there are no ongoing subscription costs, just a laser-focussed spend on helping that staff member keep healthy and productive. 

 

The UK is seeing more and more people go off on long-term sick leave. One in 13 adult workers is off on extended sick leave, according to the Office for National Statistics. Our own clients say that a proactive approach to help their employees return to work smoothly can save in the long run. 

 

Helping staff stay healthy and productive is not just the right thing to do for them, their families and their co-workers, it makes good business sense too. 

 

If we can help your or your teams, please do get in touch.