Press release 25 July 2024.
Following Barnsley Council’s launch of its Pathways to Work report, which has been endorsed by the Government, GRiD, the industry body for group risk, welcomes the launch and sees this as the direction of travel that workplaces will need to follow to support people back to work.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD says: “GRiD agrees that a key challenge to UK growth continues to be the one in five working age people who are out of work but not seeking a job, often for reasons of ill-health. It’s encouraging to hear the report findings that seven out of ten economically inactive people want to work. The group risk industry, which an increasing number of employers are utilising, according to Swiss Re’s 2024 Group Watch, is ideally placed to help with this challenge by stemming the flow of workers into inactivity because of ill-health.
“There are calls for employers to play their part in helping to reduce the number of people who are economically inactive and those with group income protection will be well-placed to do this. Group income protection providers can help deliver that outcome for employers and employees alike, whilst saving the state considerable effort and cost by mitigating the number of people whose health presents a barrier to work becoming economically inactive, by getting them back to work and financially supporting those who genuinely can’t go back or who need longer to do so.
“Group risk benefits provide a comprehensive range of embedded services aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of employees, underpinned by highly effective Vocational Rehabilitation, helping people who are absent from work due to ill-health make a sustainable return to work. All of this is provided alongside a group income protection policy, which provides financial support whilst an employee is unable to work for health reasons.”
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Notes for editors
For further information please contact:
Sharon Mason
SMUK Marketing and PR
smason@smuk.org.uk
Mob: 07747 611773
Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
Mob: 07887 512508
About GRiD
Group Risk Development (GRiD) is the industry body for the group risk sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their well-being and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and those operating in (or with other interests in) the UK group risk market. Together this forms a collective wealth of experience built over many years. Under the chairmanship of Colin Fitzgerald (Distribution Director – Group Protection, L&G Retail) GRiD aims to promote group risk through a collective voice to Government, policymakers, stakeholders and employers.
GRiD works with government departments and regulators involved in legislation and regulation affecting group risk benefits, and with other organisations involved in the benefits and financial protection arenas. GRiD also seeks to enhance the industry’s standing by encouraging best practice and by participating in industry-wide initiatives such as the professional qualification in group risk managed jointly with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
GRiD’s media activity aims to generate a wider awareness and understanding of group risk products and their benefits for employers and employees.
GRiD’s dedicated spokesperson, Katharine Moxham, provides expert media comment on a full range of group risk issues.
www.grouprisk.org.uk
Follow Katharine Moxham on Twitter @KMoxham
