Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

ExpatriatesHealth and safetyOccupational HealthWellbeingGlobal HR

Employers ignoring needs of overseas staff

by Personnel Today 30 Jan 2013
by Personnel Today 30 Jan 2013

Employers often ignore the localised health needs of staff they send to work overseas, research has suggested, with two-fifths of expatriates only being offered the same healthcare package as their counterparts in the UK, irrespective of its appropriateness to their specific posting.

Companies of all sizes are increasingly looking to expand into other countries, but businesses are taking unnecessary risks when it comes to their employees’ health, the research by healthcare provider Expacare concludes.

Benefit options provided by employers operating internationally varied little from those provided for employees solely based in the UK, despite employees working overseas normally needing specific benefits such as a relocation allowance and private medical insurance, the study found.

The majority of employers questioned typically looked to post an employee overseas for between three to six months, with more than a quarter sending employees away for up to a year.

More than two-fifths of the employers surveyed said the overall value did not differ between domestic and expat staff.

Private health insurance

When it came to health, employers did, by and large, feel that offering private health insurance was important, and this was the most common benefit provided for both internationally and domestically based staff (32%).

Nevertheless, fewer than one-fifth placed any importance on offering critical illness cover in the event of long-term or serious illness.

There were also differing attitudes towards health insurance provision for workers. More than one-third of employers said it was a personal choice for staff, while nearly a quarter said they would like to provide health insurance but could not afford to do so.

Beverly Cook, Expacare managing director, said: “There seems to be real confusion over policies, with far too many businesses assuming that their employees will be covered if they are located in the EU and that an employee’s travel insurance policy will cover all their health needs. Private health insurance is a valued benefit for staff, but care for chronic and palliative conditions is often overlooked. Businesses need to adopt a rigorous approach to cost containment without cutting corners so they can be sure they have reliable cover.”

The research also highlighted the types of health cover most valued by expat workers.

Nearly two-fifths wished for medical evacuation, more than one-third requested a 24-hour helpline and more than a quarter asked for a choice of doctors.

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Tribunal provides guidance on agency workers and Swedish derogation
next post
Employers embrace digital recruitment media

You may also like

Hot summers, hot desks – employment law advice...

12 Aug 2022

Expert urges Covid-19 autumn booster expansion amid waning...

11 Aug 2022

Working in a heatwave: what should employers consider?

11 Aug 2022

Zero-hours contract benefits ‘can outweigh negatives for workers’

11 Aug 2022

Hybrid working: do the costs outweigh the wellbeing...

10 Aug 2022

Personnel Today Awards 2022 shortlist: Health and Wellbeing...

10 Aug 2022

Long Covid develops in one in eight of...

5 Aug 2022

How can OH start difficult conversations about loneliness?

3 Aug 2022

Should you let your employees work from abroad?

2 Aug 2022

CPD: supporting the health needs of university staff

1 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today