Health insurer AXA PPP has bought global absence, stress and occupational health management company ICAS International Holdings at the same time as rival Norwich Union has launched a new absence management tool.
AXA’s purchase of ICAS, which owns and operates businesses in the UK, Southern Africa and Spain as well as a network of affiliates in more than 30 countries, raises its profile significantly in the employee services market.
As well as OH, absence and stress, ICAS provides EAP, employee support and employee wellbeing services and currently has more than 900 clients on its books, including 50 multinationals.
Norwich Union Healthcare, meanwhile, has launched a new absence management product called Absence Solutions.
The product offers employers a recording and reporting telephone or web-based system, rehabilitation services and data collation and interpretation, including reasons for absence and analysis of occupational health needs.
