Delegates who attend Employee Benefits Connect 2016 can gain insight into the importance of early intervention for sickness absences.
In a session entitled ‘Taking measures to protect businesses from sickness absence costs of the future - the benefits of early intervention’, Beth Rose Husted, vocational rehabilitation services manager at Unum UK, will discuss what could happen as the number of older employees in the workplace increases, how employers can support staff in the early stages of sickness to reduce the length of absence, and what services are available to support both physical and mental health in the workplace.
The session will also delve into The benefits to business and the economy of early intervention and rehabilitation report, published by Unum and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) in October 2015, such as its finding that providing support early on using early intervention services can reduce absence length by 17% on average.
Husted said: “Employers need to begin focusing on what services they have in place to keep staff well and at work, and whether [these services] are the right ones for their employees. Benefits are not beneficial for employers or employees unless they’re actually used.
“Line managers also need to be trained to spot the signs of potential employee absence and consider the financial effects of someone not being at work.”
She adds: “Keeping employees at work shows them that their employer cares about them and represents something tangible that their colleagues can see and experience.”
Employee Benefits Connect 2016 will take place on 9 March at the Lancaster London.
For more information and to register to attend, visit www.employeebenefitsconnect.co.uk.
