News – Page 127
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2 Sisters Food Group to launch voluntary perks
2 Sisters Food Group is to launch a voluntary benefits plan, an employee assistance programme (EAP) and an online health assessment programme in November 2013.The benefits, which are provided by Personal Group, will be available to the food manufacturer’s 24,000 employees at 47 locations around the UK.The scheme will also ...
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Vision Service Plan launches in the UK
EXCLUSIVE: Vision Service Plan (VSP) has extends its eyecare offering to employers in the UK.The US eyecare provider, which works with 40,000 employers in the US, will offer optical benefits to employers, encouraging them to create wellness programmes for their employees through eyecare.VSP is working with the Association of Optometrists ...
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Bupa launches health benefit for all UK staff
Bupa has launched its diagnosis benefit, Business Fit, to all 30,000 UK employees.The healthcare provider’s aim is to offer early intervention to help reduce sickness absence, as well as to diagnose mental health issues quickly and provide physiotherapy treatment for muscle, bone and joint conditions.The benefit includes:Quick diagnosis and treatment.Physiotherapy ...
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48% feel stressed at work
Nearly half (48%) of respondents feel stressed at work two to three or more times a week, according to research by Axa PPP Healthcare.The Axa PPP Healthcare Workplace wellbeing survey, which surveyed 500 small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) and 500 employees, found that two-thirds (63%) of employer respondents do not ...
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Jelf Employee Benefits launches paper on cancer care
Jelf Employee Benefits has launched a white paper on cancer care.The paper is designed to educate employers on the options available to help them manage their costs and care better for their employees.The white paper includes details on:NHS shortfalls.Issues with private medical insurance (PMI).Pressures on employers.Alternative cancer cover.Iain Laws, director ...
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Absence could be cut by over a third
The UK and Germany have the worst sickness absence rates in Europe, lagging behind countries such as France, Poland and Romania, according to a report by the Fit for Work Europe Coalition.The report, which was written by The Work Foundation, found that an extra one million employees could be at ...
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Employers should fund PMI to aid return to work
A court ruling in a case involving work-related stress has determined that employers could be required to fund private medical insurance (PMI) as part of a ‘reasonable adjustment’ to help employees return to work.The claimant in Croft Vets Ltd v Butcher, who had been a long-serving employee, left work with ...
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PruHealth to launch integrated health product
PruHealth is to evolve its private medical insurance (PMI) scheme and its Vitality wellness programme into a new Lifestyle Health Insurance product.Its new offering, which will be introduced on 1 January 2014, will provide employers with a platform to offer employees a full integration of PruHealth’s products and services.The Lifestyle ...
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Demonstrating ROI is top priority for HR
More than a third (35%) of respondents named demonstrating return on investment (ROI) as their number one priority over the next 12 months, according to research commissioned by PMI Health Group and conducted by Imperial College Business School.The research, which surveyed HR directors and managers for large UK organisations, found ...
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Le Creuset launches gym benefit
French kitchenware manufacturer Le Creuset has launched free gym services for its employees.The organisation, which is aiming to increase employee health and wellbeing, has appointed Personal Touch Fitness to manage onsite facilities for more than 60 staff at its UK branch in Andover, Hampshire.The corporate fitness provider also provides fitness ...
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Westfield Health to rebrand
EXCLUSIVE: Westfield Health is to rebrand to focus on its almost 100-year history, its not-for-profit status and its employer-paid health cash plan proposition.It will reveal the new brand, which includes a new logo and strapline, ‘Harder Working Health Cover’ at Employee Benefits Live on 25 and 26 September at National ...
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Government launches workplace health service
The government has launched a workplace health service, which aims to help small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) manage both physical and mental ill health in the workplace.The free online service, Health for Work Adviceline, was initially trialled in 2011.The launch follows the government’s response into sickness absence in January 2013.The ...
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Buyer's guide to health cash plans 2013
What are health cash plans?Health cash plans are designed to cover everyday healthcare costs such as a trip to the dentist; a new pair of glasses; or a session with a physiotherapist. Once a policyholder has received treatment covered by their plan they claim back the money from the cash ...
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Employees would consider using dental plans if available
Just under two-thirds (63%) of employee respondents without a dental plan would consider taking up one if their employer offered it, according to research by Denplan.Its 2013 Dental benefit survey, which questioned 503 benefits professionals and more than 4,000 UK adults, found that 42% of employer respondents in the process ...
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Confessions of a benefits manager: A healthy obsession
Indeed, the Higher Beings over there wouldn’t be bothered if it wasn’t for the fact that staff illness costs money. Someone has woken up to the fact that our staff are not the healthiest bunch, and this costs us in terms of medical insurance, not to mention life insurance if ...
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Debbie Lovewell: Positive impact of exercise
Yet, thanks to a gym opening a mere stone’s throw from Employee Benefits’ offices, this has all begun to change.One pleasant surprise has been the positive impact of lunch-time gym sessions on mood, energy levels and afternoon productivity. It certainly ties in with research by HR recruitment firm Ortus, which ...
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Royal Mail offers eye screening for staff
Royal Mail has offered an eye-screening programme to employees at its Southampton Mail Centre.The aim of the event, which tested the vision of 500 staff, was to encourage non-desk-based employees to get their eyesight tested and to be referred to a qualified optician for a full eye exam. Some of ...
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Lack of competition raises PMI prices
A lack of competiton in the private healthcare market at a local level has led to higher private medical insurance (PMI) premiums, according to the Competition Commission.Its Provisional findings on privately-funded healthcare services report, which sets out the independent public body’s initial findings, also found that private hospital operators have ...
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Warrington Wolves launches health cash plan
Warrington Wolves has launched a health cash plan for its office-based staff at the rugby team’s Halliwell Jones stadium.The plan, which is provided by health cash plan provider Paycare, enables 34 administrative employees to reclaim 100% of the money they spend on healthcare services, such as dental, optical and specialist ...
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Sports13 partners PosturePip for workplace health
Workplace health and wellbeing organisation Sports13 has partnered PosturePip to offers its product to employers.PosturePip, which is designed to help office workers improve their posture, health and wellbeing, is an animated exercise reminder in the form of a virtual pet to demonstrate and encourage the performance of simple exercises.It is ...