News – Page 128

  • Article

    Heatwave causes spike in absence rates

    2013-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Almost a third (30%) of respondents have noticed a rise in absence rates during the UK’s recent hot weather, according to research commissioned by PMI Health Group.The study, which was conducted among 93 medium-sized and large employers, found that more than half (54%) of respondents do not operate flexible-working policies ...

  • Article

    John Lewis extends physio service to all staff

    2013-08-01T00:00:00Z

    The John Lewis Partnership has extended its physiotherapy service to all 84,500 John Lewis and Waitrose employees.The retail organisation previously offered the service, which is provided by Physio Med, to its Waitrose employees, but has now extended it across the partnership.It was keen to reduce the incidence, duration and recurrence ...

  • Article

    Buyer's guide to group dental plans 2013

    2013-07-29T00:00:00Z

    The factsWhat are group dental plans?A group dental plan is an insurance-based scheme that offers employees cover for both preventative and restorative dental treatments. The plan gives staff access to dental insurance through their employer. The benefits can be accessed in various ways, including via private medical insurance (PMI), flexible ...

  • Article

    Royal British Legion extends eyecare scheme

    2013-07-15T10:47:00Z

    The Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) is extending its eyecare voucher offering to qualifying members of staff in its sign manufacturing and wood fabrication factories.The vouchers, provided by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, will also be offered, free of charge, to all ex-military personnel associated with the charity’s work in Aylesford, Kent.Geri ...

  • Article

    National Dental Plan launches percentage reimbursement plan

    2013-07-09T11:22:00Z

    National Dental Plan (NDP) has launched a new percentage reimbursement dental care product.Its Radiant product, which provides 100% reimbursement for preventative and minor treatments and 80% for major treatments, will go live for employers on 2 September 2013.It is designed to complement NDP’s existing product, Clear, which provides a fixed ...

  • Article

    Bausch and Lomb hosts wellness day

    2013-07-04T11:28:00Z

    Bausch and Lomb hosted its first in-house wellness day to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours among its 120 staff.The global eyecare organisation held a series of health promotions and interactive activities at its UK headquarters in Kingston-upon-Thames.The wellness event included a health-check kiosk where employees could test their body mass index, ...

  • Article

    BGL Group re-launches free health checks for UK staff

    2013-07-03T10:43:00Z

    Insurer BGL Group has re-launched free health checks for employees across its UK sites.The ‘Know your numbers’ annual review monitors important health indicators, including height, weight and body mass index (BMI) to body fat percentage, waist size, blood pressure, blood glucose and total cholesterol. More than 650 employees booked a ...

  • Article

    Bupa launches dental care for SMEs

    2013-07-03T10:25:00Z

    Bupa has extended its dental care product to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).The Bupa Dental Health Plan, which provides cover for treatment at Bupa dental centres, offers employees routine dental care, including check-ups, scale and polish appointments, and any necessary x-rays.The plan also provides:A 20% discount on general dental treatment ...

  • Article

    HCML launches mental health intervention product

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    Rehabilitation and case management provider Health and Case Management (HCML) has launched a professional case management product to combat workplace absence and reduced productivity caused by mental health issues.It’s The Time To Talk service aims to manage employees’ recovery with intensive intervention to help them stay at, or return to, ...

  • Article

    William Grant funds pay rises with PMI savings

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: William Grant and Sons has switched providers of its private medical insurance (PMI) scheme and made adjustments to the new scheme to produce cost savings which it will use to give higher pay rises to its UK staff.The whisky distiller chose to enter into a tender process to switch ...

  • Article

    DOD’s blog: Dreaming in percentages

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    Having spent the past week buried in data (for both the about-to-be published Employee Benefits/Capita Pensions Research 2013 as well as our fascinating in-depth analysis on how the main corporate advisers are performing in the UK market) I am beginning to dream in percentages.It is also why I have plenty ...

  • Article

    Employer-paid PMI on the increase

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    The use of employer-paid private medical insurance (PMI) policies in the UK increased by 2% to 2.98 million in 2012, according to research by healthcare intelligence provider Laing and Buisson.Its Health cover UK market report 2013 found that, of the 58,500 additional company-paid policies, 35,700 were self-insured by employers and ...

  • Article

    Tui UK and Ireland targets staff absence

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Tui UK and Ireland has hosted a wellbeing day to focus on developing a holistic health and wellbeing programme across the business and to reduce its sickness absence levels.The travel organisation’s first wellbeing day was held in June at its head office, where 1,200 employees could visit benefits suppliers ...

  • Article

    Absenteeism at record low

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    Absence from work in the UK has dropped to a new record low, according to research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).The CBI/Pfizer Absence and workplace health survey, which questioned HR managers in 153 organisations employing 850,000 people across the UK, found the average absence rate was 5.3 days ...

  • Article

    Sick days cost UK nearly £29bn a year

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    Sick days are costing UK business nearly £29 billion a year as UK workers take more than four times as many days off work due to sickness as their global counterparts, according to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).The research, which is based on data gathered from 2,500 organisations, found that UK ...

  • Article

    Aviva launches PMI product for large employers

    2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

    Aviva has launched a new private medical insurance (PMI) product for large employers.Its Guidewell product, which is available from 1 July, has been designed to manage the rising costs of claims and to help employers control their healthcare spend.The product includes:Open-referral process, so there will be no shortfall in hospital ...

  • Article

    Group risk report 2013

    2013-06-24T00:00:00Z

    PDF version of Group risk report 2013Ot read the articles online:David Williams: The future of group risk benefits looks flexibleGroup risk facts and figuresHow to align group risk benefits with business strategyKatharine Moxham: New opportunities in the group risk marketTop tips for minimising group risk benefits spendHow to use group ...

  • Article

    Gym and exercise breaks can increase productivity

    2013-06-19T11:15:00Z

    Providing breaks for employees to visit the gym or to exercise during office hours could help to increase day-to-day productivity, according to research by specialist HR recruitment firm Ortus.The research, conducted among 570 HR professionals, found that 52% of respondents said gym and exercise breaks would boost work levels.Other popular ...

  • Article

    Uni of Lincoln staff take part in global challenge

    2013-06-17T10:48:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: The University of Lincoln has launched its fourth annual Global Corporate Challenge.The challenge, which began in May and will continue until September, will include a range of activities that focus on employee health and wellbeing.The university had four teams when it first participated in the programme in 2009, but ...

  • Article

    Cycling to work could halve sick days

    2013-06-05T10:20:00Z

    Cycling to work could halve the number of sick days taken by UK employees and provide a £13.7 billion annual boost to UK business, according to a report by Sustrans.The report has been launched in tandem with the charity’s Support Cycling to Work campaign.It calls on government to recognise the ...