Kärcher encourages cash plan take up

EXCLUSIVE: Kärcher UK has issued new communications to its 230 employees to remind them about their health cash plan.

Between 1 July 2012 and 1 February 2013, 97 employees at the cleaning equipment manufacturer made a claim through the plan.

As a result, Kärcher UK wanted to ensure its employees were taking advantage of the Simplyhealth-provided scheme during each annual period, which runs from 1 July to 30 June the following year.

Kevin McGuinness, HR manager at Kärcher UK, said: “It is a reminder to get claims in for this year so [staff] use their full allowance. The finance director is very keen that employees claim as much as they can to justify the [organisation’s] outlay.”

The email communication, which it now plans to send out every year, outlines the claims levels available for each benefit, including: £120-worth of dental costs; £120-worth of optical costs; £200 for health screening; £300 for complementary therapies, such as acupuncture; and £500 for specialist consultations and scans.

The email includes a PowerPoint presentation with details about each coverage and how to make a claim.

“For the last 12 months we have focused on driving up awareness,” said McGuinness. “I’ve sent out emails about my own claims.

“I’ve had a few back problems, and I’ve extolled the virtues of the plan, including how easy it is to use. I’ve had enquiries from these emails saying thanks for reminding me and asking where they get the claims forms.”