Supermarket chain Tesco has extended its wellbeing provision for its more than 300,000 UK employees and their families to include a virtual GP service.
Through the service, which is provided by Yulife, front-line staff, managers and their immediate family living in the same household will be able to access unlimited appointments with a GP seven days a week, to allow flexibility in managing their health.
Appointments can be via an online video consultation with a doctor or a phone call whenever they are needed. GPs will also be able to issue staff with private prescriptions, which can be filled at pharmacies the same day or delivered to employees’ homes.
Tesco employees and family members in the same household will also be able to access an extended range of wellbeing services through its employee assistance programme, including access to sleep therapists, nutritionists, counsellors, exercise coaches and physiotherapists. These services will be available 24 hours a day every day of the year, for instant advice and guidance.
According to the supermarket giant, the new services demonstrate its commitment to supporting its workforce in a more innovative way, along with providing traditional benefits such as share schemes and discounts.
James Goodman, UK people director at Tesco, said: “We recognise how important it is to support our workers’ health and wellbeing, and to ensure they can access the services they need in a flexible way that fits around their work and personal lives.”
“With these enhanced colleague wellbeing services, we hope to help staff take positive steps to look after their wellbeing and when they need help, they will get fast and simple access to support. This is a direct investment in the health of our employees, which we hope will also support them to be at their very best and continue to do a brilliant job serving our customers.”