News – Page 124
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ArticleDanone extends access to employer-paid health checks
EXCLUSIVE: Danone has extended access to employer-paid health screenings to all of its 1,300 UK employees.Previously, only senior staff, who represent around 10% of the workforce, had access to the benefit.The food manufacturer introduced the scheme during its flexible benefits enrolment window in April.Since then, 48% of employees have signed ...
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ArticleGym membership and retail discounts top voluntary perks
Gym membership and retail or leisure discounts are the most commonly offered benefits via voluntary benefits schemes, according to The Benefits Research 2014, which surveyed 256 respondents in March 2014.Over the past few years, employers have increasingly taken a proactive approach to employee wellbeing, which may explain why gym membership ...
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ArticleBank of America Merrill Lynch aids staff weight loss
EXCLUSIVE: Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) employees have lost a total of 74.6 kilograms (kg) since the bank launched a weight management programme in January.The programme, ‘Weight a Minute’, aims to encourage employees to proactively review their eating habits, increase fitness activity and to make these changes sustainable.During the ...
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ArticleWorkplace walking campaign launches
National charities Living Streets and Mind have teamed up to help employers keep their workforce well and motivated during Walk to Work Week, which runs from 12 to 16 May.The campaign aims to encourage organisations to help employees build some walking into their day to benefit their physical and mental ...
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Article67% go to work when ill
More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents have gone to work when they were sick, according to research by Axa PPP Healthcare.Its online research, which surveyed 2,000 employees, found that 21% of respondents blamed a heavy workload for going to work when they were ill.Other reasons included:18% felt guilty about staying ...
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ArticleRegisters of Scotland enhances eyecare benefits
Registers of Scotland has enhanced the eyecare benefits it provides to staff.The land and property register has launched an e-voucher system, provided by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, which includes an eye test, £65 towards glasses, if required, and £35-worth of store vouchers.The system allows employees to order and redeem vouchers electronically. ...
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Article47% know a colleague who has quit work due to stress
Nearly half (47%) of respondents know a colleague who has quit work due to stress, according to research by Capita Employee Benefits.Its second Annual employee insight report, which interviewed more than 3,000 UK employees, found that 79% of respondents have been stressed at work in the past year.The research also ...
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ArticleBarnett Waddingham launches wellbeing modelling tool
Barnett Waddingham has launched a wellbeing data analysis modelling tool to help organisations identify specific health risks among their workforce.The employee benefits and pensions consultancy’s tool, BWell, is aimed at recommending appropriate strategies to develop a wellbeing programme for an employer that is tailored to its workforce’s specific health risks. ...
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Wates Group to launch on-site wellbeing kiosks
EXCLUSIVE: Wates Group is to roll out on-site wellbeing kiosks in 2014.The construction organisation will roll our kiosks for all employees, including contract staff, after trialling an on-site wellbeing kiosk, provided by The Wellbeing People, at its Leatherhead site in April 2013.There will be two kiosks that move around Wates ...
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ArticleCMA report will change private healthcare market
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Private healthcare market investigation final report, published in April, announced a number of measures to address a lack of competition and consumer detriment issues in the market.Joanne Anderson, senior healthcare consultant at Towers Watson, said: “We expect the changes to stimulate further developments in ...
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Article20% take time off work due to stress
One in five (20%) respondents have taken time off work due to a stress-related illness in the past 12 months, according to research by MetLife Employee Benefits.Its research, which surveyed 2,134 respondents aged 18 and above, found that one in 10 respondents have taken more than six days off work ...
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Telefonica switches occupational health providers
Telefonica UK has switched providers for its occupational health service.The technology organisation’s new service, which is available for its 8,000 employees, delivers a range of online, telephone and face-to-face occupational health services.These include:Task and job-specific new-employee health screening.Absence management referrals.Health surveillance.Wellbeing and treatment services.Provider Corpore’s health professionals will also carry ...
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ArticleCMA changes to private healthcare could cut PMI costs
Measures introduced in the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) final report into increasing competition in the private healthcare market could result in lower private medical insurance (PMI) premiums and new PMI product design.Its Private healthcare market investigation final report has announced measures including a crackdown on benefits and incentive schemes ...
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ArticleGary Brewer: Should the government give employers tax breaks on group PMI?
In the current economic climate, any practical assistance is welcome and the government should be applauded for such an intervention if it helps provide respite for hard-pressed organisations.At William Grant and Sons, we already have a group private medical insurance (PMI) scheme in place extending across all employees and, in ...
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ArticleDavid Heaton: Should the government give employers tax breaks on group PMI?
The logic of the new tax-free spend of £500 on treatment recommended by the forthcoming Health and Work Service (HWS) is that it encourages employers to get sick employees back to work more quickly, so extending the relief to all employer-provided private medical insurance (PMI), up to a reasonable value, ...
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ArticleLucy Wright: Should the government give employers tax breaks on group PMI?
Many employers offer private medical insurance (PMI) in their employee benefits package, which is popular with staff. Traditionally, this has often been regarded as a benefit solely for the convenience of the employee and, as such, attracts tax.However, with the increasing importance of attendance management on operational performance and the ...
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ArticlePMI and dental most common flexible benefits
Private medical insurance for employees’ partners and dependants and dental insurance are the most commonly offered benefits via a flexible benefits scheme, according to The Benefits Research 2014, which surveyed 256 respondents in March 2014.These are followed closely by buying or selling holiday, health screening and critical illness insurance.The top ...
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ArticleHealth screening and GPPs most popular new benefits
Health screening and group personal pension (GPP) plans saw the biggest growth as new benefits introduced by employers over the past year, according to The Benefits Research 2014, which surveyed 256 respondents in March 2014.Just under half (44%) of respondents introduced new benefits to their organisation in the past 12 ...
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ArticleImproving staff health can contribute to business performance
There are clear business benefits to supporting employee health and wellbeing, according to a report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).Its report, Getting better: workplace health as a business issue, published with healthcare provider Medicash, outlines how improving employee health can contribute to better business performance through lower absence, ...
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Article45% consider mental ill health a major cause of long-term absence
Almost half (45%) of respondents consider stress and mental ill health a major cause of long-term absence among their employees, according to research by industry body Group Risk Development (Grid).Its Group risk employer research study, which surveyed 500 UK employers, found that 25% of employer respondents also considered stress and ...