Private healthcare provider Bupa has integrated its OH services into its
employee income protection scheme, in a move it argues will lead sick employees
to return to work quicker.
Once an employee has been absent for more than 15 working days, Bupa is
informed and the OH services becomes involved, rather than, as before, OH being
offered as a separate provision.
The OH teams liaise with the employee directly, discussing any treatment or
support they may need to help them achieve a full recovery as early as
possible.
Bupa membership’s head of sales and business development Martin Noone said
this might be no more than having a chat with the employee to discuss their
illness and assess how much time they need off work.
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Bupa has also launched a 24-hour ‘healthline’ for employees, family members
and employers, staffed by qualified nurses.
"Reducing the length of time someone is away from work is essential to
the continuity of any business," said Noone. "By adding OH services,
companies can offer an added benefit to employees in a climate when it is
increasingly difficult to find and retain good staff."
