All articles by Sam Barrett – Page 9
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AnalysisBuyer’s guide to employee assistance programmes
The facts:What are employee assistance programmes (EAPs)?An EAP provides confidential information, support and counselling to employees with personal or work-related issues. The service is available around the clock by telephone or online, with a comprehensive EAP also providing access to face-to-face counselling where necessary.An EAP can also support an employer. ...
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Case StudiesOracle introduces rehabilitation helpline for managers
Supporting the health and wellbeing of its UK employees is important to technology organisation Oracle. To help achieve this, in November 2015, it introduced a vocational rehabilitation helpline, Swift, for managers in collaboration with Unum, alongside its existing portfolio of healthcare and wellbeing benefits.This acts like a triage service, says ...
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ArticleHow to maximise the value of rehabilitation support
Need to knowInsurers are keen to provide rehabilitation support as early as possible because this can reduce absence and improve the outcome for the employee.Robust absence procedures will ensure that cases suitable for rehabilitation are identified as early as possible.Communication is essential to enable early intervention and maximise the value ...
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AnalysisHow to create a workplace programme to incentivise healthy behaviour
Need to knowAn employer should pick a broad range of healthy behaviours to reward to avoid alienating groups of employees.Short challenges can help to improve behaviours but a continual programme will encourage more employees to adopt healthy habits for the long term.An employer should select rewards and incentives carefully; for ...
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ArticleVictrex uses segmentation to assist financial education
Global high-performance polymer manufacturer Victrex employs around 600 people in the UK in roles ranging from manufacturing to management. When Sally Knill joined as head of reward in 2013, it soon became apparent that a financial education programme was needed. “There was limited appreciation of the benefits on offer,” she ...
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AnalysisHow to align financial, physical and emotional wellbeing
Need to know:Financial worries can affect sleep, increasing the risk of mental and physical health problems, pushing up absence and potentially causing safety issues.Segmenting a workforce can make financial education more targeted and effective.Employers should not overlook simple changes, such as making it easier to claim expenses or promoting the ...
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Case StudiesA-one+ advocates sun safety through summer health campaign
Integrated highways service and solutions provider A-one+ employs more than 1,000 people carrying out maintenance, incident response and engineering projects on behalf of Highways England. With so many of its employees working outdoors, it launched a summer health campaign in 2015. Emma Hughes, network intelligence technician and lead health advocate ...
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AnalysisWhat to include in a workplace summer health campaign
Need to knowEmployers can promote sun safety and help employees hydrate; dehydration causes headaches, dizziness and can affect performance.Employers can take advantage of the good weather to encourage employees to get active outdoors.They can flag up country-specific advice and GP helplines to help employees stay healthy on holiday.Warmer weather, longer ...
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AnalysisKey trends in workplace health and wellbeing
Learn more about the key trends in workplace wellbeing at Employee Benefits Live 2016 on 11-12 October at Olympia National, LondonWorkplace health and wellbeing programmes aim to make employees healthier, happier and more productive. But, as well as evolving to reflect the latest thinking in health and wellbeing, these programmes ...
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Case StudiesKPMG raises awareness of eating disorders with wellbeing events
Accountancy firm KPMG employs more than 13,000 staff across 22 locations in the UK. It is committed to supporting its employees and set up its Be Mindful Network in May 2015 to help improve mental health across the organisation. Jessica Carmody, head of Be Mindful at KPMG, says: “We run ...
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AnalysisHow can employers support staff with eating disorders?
Need to know:Eating disorders affect more than 725,000 people in the UK, with the number increasing at an average of 7% a year since 2009.Warning signs include weight loss or gain, marked changes in behaviour such as an obsession with food or exercising, mood swings, lack of concentration and increased ...
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AnalysisWhat impact has medical inflation had on international private medical insurance policies?
Need to know:An average increase of 9.1% is on the cards for international private medical insurance schemes according to Aon Hewitt’s 2016 Global Medical Trend Rates report.Insurers have developed strategies including hospital networks and claims management to control treatment costs.Employers should consider tiered cover, varying the level of cover and ...
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Case StudiesAlstom uses exercise challenge to improve staff health
Engineering firm Alstom UK and Ireland, which employs more than 2,500 people in a variety of manual and office-based roles, identified it was facing potential health problems as a result of an ageing workforce.Claire Sallis, occupational health and wellbeing manager at Alstom UK and Ireland, says: “We wanted to encourage ...
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AnalysisHow to incorporate fitness into the workplace
Need to know:Employers should avoid the word ‘fitness’ because it can put off less-active employees; think ‘activity’ instead.A programme that is habit forming, such as a walking challenge or stair prompts, helps engage employees in health and wellbeing.Programmes can be made fun by including an element of competition, and a ...
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AnalysisGetting the balance right in a technology-dominated world
Need to know:An employer could draw up technology etiquette covering areas such as the time emails can be sent and when employees can log on to help create a healthy work-life balance.Employers could use a variety of communication methods, including more traditional presentations, desk drops and brochures alongside benefits portals ...
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Case StudiesAllpay encourages breaks away from technology
Technology is a key part of the working day at payments specialist Allpay. The organisation, which employs around 300 people, provides a range of services, including bill payment, prepaid cards and cashless payment systems. Ensuring staff take regular time away from technology, therefore, is actively encouraged throughout the organisation.Steve Foulger, ...
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Case StudiesAlfresco uses on and offline channels to engage staff with benefits
Alfresco is a content and business process management organisation employing around 400 people in 13 countries around the world, including the UK, where its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters are based. It provides its employees with a benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, childcare vouchers, group income ...
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Case StudiesZurich takes a country-specific approach to staff health and wellbeing
Global insurer Zurich employs around 55,000 people in more than 170 countries. Although it has a global strategy to create an environment where employees feel their health and wellbeing is supported by the organisation, the delivery of this is very much determined by the specifics of each country.Georgina Farrell, head ...
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AnalysisHow to address local healthcare needs across a global workforce
Need to know:Local differences including state healthcare provision, insurance regulations and culture will affect how a global health and wellbeing strategy is applied in different countries.As well as improving employee health, global wellbeing challenges can encourage greater teamwork and underline the organisation’s commitment to its workforce.Language differences and regional events ...
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Case StudiesFleetmatics uses data to revise health and wellbeing strategy
The power of data is well understood by Fleetmatics, a global organisation specialising in developing fleet management software. But, when Michael Arkins joined as HR manager in 2012, the organisation was failing to take full advantage of its own data. “A mixture of spreadsheets and forms were being used to ...