All Healthcare and wellbeing articles – Page 255

  • Case Studies

    Case study: Oscar Mayer employees join the voluntary benefits club

    2010-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Food production company Oscar Mayer launched an employee benefits club in 2000 to give all staff the opportunity to take up voluntary benefits.†The club was initiated by company owner and chairman John Bigwood because, like most similar organisations at that time, benefits were provided for its managing directors and senior ...

  • Analysis

    Health and wellbeing: Engaging sick employees with return to work objective

    2010-10-01T00:00:01Z

    If your read nothing else, read this…When dealing with staff suffering from conditions that can potentially led to long-term illness, early intervention, which ideally makes use of occupational health services, is crucial.A good relationship between employee and line manager is key, with the focus on what can be done ‘with’ ...

  • Article

    Chess Telecom switches health cash plan providers

    2010-10-01T00:00:01Z

    Chess Telecom has switched health cash plan providers for its 100 employees.The new deal means staff at the Cheshire based company will now have access to discounted gym membership, onsite health screening and telephone and face-to-face counseling, through the Medicash-provided plan.The cash plan complements the range of health and wellbeing ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Live 2010: KPMG rolls out new absence management policy

    2010-10-01T00:00:01Z

    KPMG is to roll out a new absence management policy and guidance document on 1 October, following a comprehensive review into sickness absence at the professional services firm.Speaking in the health and wellbeing session Helping line managers effectively deal with wellbeing issues at Employee Benefits Live on 29 September, Fiona ...

  • Analysis

    Maternity cover under international private medical insurance

    2010-09-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read thisMost international private medical insurance (PMI) plans include maternity cover.Typical offerings in maternity cover include scans, pre-natal and immediate post-natal check-ups, and childbirth.Maternity cover is offered in low-, middle- or high-level packages that cover from £5,000 to £10,000 of the standard costs.Having a baby ...

  • Article

    Buyer's guide to private medical insurance

    2010-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Focus on factsWhat is private medical insurance (PMI)?PMI provides cover for individuals if they become unwell or suffer an injury. The patient will be referred by their doctor to a private consultant, who will arrange treatment or surgery. PMI is usually offered to staff as a benefit to ensure they ...

  • Article

    Friends Provident launches absence tracking system

    2010-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Friends Provident has launched a new absence tracking system that aims to help employers monitor absence trends and calculate the cost of employee absence.The system evaluates absence by department, reason and days of the week, and includes a cost of absence calculator.It can work alongside an employer’s existing absence management ...

  • Article

    Lees Solicitors rolls out employer-paid health cash plan

    2010-08-01T00:00:01Z

    Lees Solicitors has introduced an employer-paid health cash plan for its 110 staff.The plan offers employees and their families a range of healthcare benefits such as optical and dental treatments, and discounted gym membership. Staff can also gain a second medical opinion through the Best Doctors service, through plan which ...

  • Article

    Research: Health cash plan market grows

    2010-06-01T00:00:01Z

    The health cash plan market generated £570 million in 2009, according to new research from Datamonitor.The UK Healthcare Cash Plans 2010 report showed the market demonstrated strong resilience in the recession with the sector witnessing a 1.2% increase.Mahreen Hussein, analyst at Datamonitor and author of the report, credited the rise ...

  • Case Studies

    Case Study: Informa

    2010-06-01T00:00:01Z

    Publishing company Informa employs 8,500 people worldwide and has been recognised as one of Britain’s top employers by the CRF Institute for three years running, scoring full marks for its pay and benefits package.Thomas Humphris, head office HR and UK reward director at Informa, says: “Our benefits strategy focuses on ...

  • Analysis

    Benefits keep employees working well

    2010-06-01T00:00:01Z

    Employees need physical and psychological maintenance to keep them performing effectively and benefits can be the best tools, says Sam BarrettRegular services, maintenance schedules and instruction manuals go along with everything from the office air conditioning system and photocopier to forklift trucks in the warehouse. But when it comes to ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Health and Wellbeing Conference 2010: Cost of private medical insurance (PMI) under scrutiny

    2010-06-01T00:00:01Z

    The increasing cost of offering private medical insurance (PMI) came under scrutiny during a panel debate at Employee Benefits' Health and Wellbeing Conference 2010 last month.Mike Izzard, former chairman of the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (Amii), blamed rising premiums on the high costs charged by private hospital chains, and ...

  • Article

    InterGlobal to provide private medical insurance in Pakistan

    2010-05-01T00:00:01Z

    Interglobal has partnered with Pakistan insurance company Alfalah Insurance Company to provide private medical insurance (PMI) to companies throughout Pakistan.Under the new arrangement, InterGlobal’s UltraCare range of international PMI plans will be reinsured and administered by the company, but underwritten and distributed by Alfalah Insurance Company in Pakistan.The UltraCare range ...

  • Article

    Fit notes come into law

    2010-04-01T00:00:01Z

    Employees who are off sick for more than seven days will be issued with new fit notes rather than the traditional sick note under legislation introduced today.The new Statement of Fitness For Work note, which is relevant to all businesses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will contain two ...

  • Article

    Cigna launches a new private medical insurance plan

    2010-04-01T00:00:01Z

    Cigna Healthcare has launched a new private medical insurance (PMI) plan for employers with 150 to 400 employees.The Smarter Health plan includes a managed care service that provides access to a nurse throughout the course of an employee's treatment.In addition, the plan provides the employer with the ability to restrict ...

  • Article

    First Great Western introduces employer-funded cash plans

    2010-04-01T00:00:01Z

    First Great Western has launched employer-funded healthcare cash plans for its 4,800 staff members across the UK.The scheme, provided by Health Shield, went live at the beginning of the month. Prior to the scheme being introduced cash plans were only offered as a voluntary benefit and were taken up by ...

  • Article

    Staff absence due to travel disruptions costs UK businesses £3m a day

    2010-04-01T00:00:01Z

    Staff absence due to ongoing travel disruptions caused by the volcanic ash cloud is costing British businesses an estimated £3 million a day.According to absence management firm FirstCare, absence caused by transport problems jumped to 20,300 cases yesterday (Monday), compared to just short of 3,000 on a normal day.Aaron Ross, ...

  • Article

    Buyer's guide to private medical insurance (PMI) for expatriates

    2010-03-01T00:00:01Z

    Private medical insurance for employees working abroad is likely to cost more and should be tailored to the requirements of each particular country, says Sally HamiltonPrivate medical insurance (PMI) for expatriate employees typically provides cover for repatriation, evacuation and pregnancy care, as well as chronic and pre-existing health conditions and ...

  • Article

    Majority of employers say fit notes will not reduce absence

    2010-03-01T00:00:01Z

    Only 22% of employers believe that fit notes will help to reduce absence levels while 38% believe the fit note will create more problems than it solves.According to a survey conducted by Kronos, the workplace management company, which polled 1,400 private and public sector employers:35% are still unaware that the ...

  • Analysis

    Thought leaders 2010: The year ahead: Promoting a healthy attitude to sickness

    2010-03-01T00:00:01Z

    Key PointsSickness absence is linked to the underlying culture of an organisation and its managers. A poor culture leads to high absence ratesOrganisations need to be able to do more with less, which requires a fit, productive workforceTo combat absence, employers need clear policies, current information, training for managers and ...