News – Page 120
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40, GymFlex: Re-examining inactivity in the workforce
Those who believe that inactivity causes obesity might be in for a shock: a long-term study by Exeter University, EarlyBird diabetes study, finalised in 2013, suggests it is actually the other way around. Consuming a fatty, sugary diet in the early years causes obesity, which in turn makes people inactive. ...
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EXCLUSIVE: Visualsoft offers staff free massages and flu vaccines
EXCLUSIVE: Visualsoft offered its 200 employees free therapeutic massages and flu vaccination vouchers as part of an initiative to highlight National Stress Awareness Day on 4 November.The web development organisation also provided its employees with free vitamins, supplied by the Boots Employee Wellbeing Scheme, as part of the initiative, which ...
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26 per cent take time off because of stress
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents take time off work due to stress, according to research by job listings website CV Library.Its survey of 1,100 employees also found that 61% of respondents feel strain in their place of work.The research also found: 25% of respondents do not know how ...
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Early intervention reduces absence length by 17 per cent
Early intervention services can reduce the length of long-term sickness absences by 17%, according to research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), commissioned by employee benefits provider Unum.Its Benefits of early intervention report, which is based on estimations of the annual cost of long-term sickness absence to ...
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Health cash plans
The latest analysis, news, case studies and opinion in relation to health cash plans.
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Healthcare and wellbeing
The latest analysis, news, case studies and opinion in relation to healthcare and wellbeing, covering areas such as corporate gym membership; support/counselling services; health insurance benefits; occupational health; wellbeing benefits; mental wellbeing; and health cash plans.
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Engine Group raises awareness via benefits fairs
EXCLUSIVE: Engine Group held a selection of employee benefits fairs earlier this month to coincide with its annual flexible benefits window.The largest of the fairs took place on 3 September at the marketing and advertising organisation’s Great Portland Street office, London, in an effort to raise awareness of the benefits ...
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Lend Lease launches wellbeing days
Employee Benefits Live 2015: Lend Lease has introduced paid ‘wellbeing days’ for staff to use to rest and recuperate, so they can return to work and perform at their optimum level.The scheme has been launched on a trust basis, with staff expected to take one wellbeing day per quarter throughout ...
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Parexel accredited for cancer support
Biopharmaceutical firm Parexel, which employs 18,660 staff, has been recognised for the support it provides to staff and their families in detecting cancer and supporting those coping with the disease.Parexel has been accredited as a CEO Gold Standard employer by the US-based CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a non-profit organisation that ...
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Balfour Beatty moves staff eyecare online
Infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has moved its employee eyecare benefits online with the introduction of e-vouchers. Over 1,000 employees have access to these vouchers, provided by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, which cover safety eyewear, sight tests, driver eyecare and DSE eyecare.The vouchers can be purchased and distributed electronically via the new ...
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Unum acquires National Dental Plan
Financial protection firm Unum has announced the acquisition of National Dental Plan (NDP) from Capita plc in a deal worth £31.7 million.The acquisition of the dental insurance provider, which remains subject to regulatory approval, will widen Unum’s portfolio of employee benefits.The deal will help both Unum and NDP to expand ...
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Employer-paid PMI policies decline by 14,000
There were 3.94 million private medical insurance (PMI) policies at the start of 2015, compared to 3.97 million a year earlier, according to a study by market intelligence firm LaingBuisson.Its Health cover UK market report also found that employer-paid PMI policies fell by around 14,000 over 2014.The research also found:The ...
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Hertfordshire County Council introduces health screening
EXCLUSIVE: Hertfordshire County Council has introduced salary sacrifice health screening for its 8,500 employees.The scheme was launched in June 2015 and is available through the council’s current reward package, Herts Rewards.Offered as a voluntary employee benefit through Bluecrest Wellness, the health screening will enable employees to access a range of ...
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Axa gains approval for Simplyhealth acquisition
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has granted approval for Axa UK’s acquisition of Simplyhealth’s private medical insurance (PMI) business.The transaction, which was first announced in May 2015, is aimed at strengthening Axa’s presence in the UK healthcare market.Following the sale of its PMI business, Simplyhealth will continue to ...
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43% say fit notes do not aid return to work
Almost half (43%) of respondents believe that the government’s fit note is not helping staff to return to work, according to research by manufacturers’ organisation EEF and Jelf Employee Benefits.The study, which surveyed 345 employers, also found that less than a quarter (22%) of respondents think that the fit note ...
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EAT introduces 18-month limit on holiday pay carry over
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that employees can only carry over unused holiday due to sickness absence for a maximum of 18 months. The EAT also found that absent members of staff do not need to prove that illness was the reason for not taking the holiday.In the ...
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Insurance premium tax to rise to 9.5%
Summer Budget 2015: The insurance premium tax rate will rise from 6% to 9.5%. The increase, which was revealed by Chancellor George Osborne in his Budget announcement yesterday (8 July), will come into force in November 2015.Osborne said: “Britain’s insurance premium tax is well below tax rates in many other ...
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WB Power Services implements new eyecare benefit
EXCLUSIVE: WB Power Services has introduced eyecare e-vouchers for its 41 members of staff.The supplier of temporary and back-up power solutions already provides safety eyewear for its engineers, and will be offering optical care e-vouchers as an additional extra.This new benefit, provided by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, will be available to ...
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Just 10% offer mental health training
Only one in 10 (10%) of employers offer mental health training to managers, according to research by Jelf Employee Benefits and manufacturers’ organisation EEF.The study, which surveyed 345 employers, also found that 80% of organisations do not measure the cost of absence.The research also found:Overall sickness absence levels remain low ...
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Buyer's guide to health screening 2015
Health screening comprises a range of assessments and tests that can help identify health risks at an early stage. They can help to keep a workforce fit and healthy by allowing employers and employees to take steps to reduce any health problems that are identified.Identifying health risks or issues can ...