Press release 20 August 2024.
GRiD, the industry body for the group risk sector has found that only two in five (40%) employers offer their staff support for physical health to help them stay in or return to work, if they are injured or have a new illness or disability. This physical support includes access to private treatment, vocational rehab or other similar medical services.
In the event of an injury or new illness/disability, employers also offer the following:
• 38% provide support for mental health, such as Mental Health First Aiders, an EAP, and counselling
• 38% provide support for social health, such as including employees in work events
• 36% provide support for financial health, such as advice on budgeting, discount vouchers or pay advances
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said: “While it is good to see employers thinking broadly about their staff in these situations across the four main pillars of physical, mental, social and financial support, these figures are low. We would like to see more employers prepared to support their workforce through these difficult times.”
Support for physical health is most helpful
Of those employers who provide support when staff are incapacitated, a third (33%) said that they felt the support for physical health was the most helpful. This was followed by support for mental health (31%) and financial health (29%).
Funding for support
When a staff member has an injury or new illness/disability, 41% of employers fund this support on a case-by-case basis. GRiD warns that this approach has several drawbacks:
• It can be expensive to provide sufficient depth and breadth of support.
• It is difficult to budget for, as no employer will have the same number of cases year to year.
• It is not egalitarian: employers need to ensure that all employees receive the same approach to their illness, injury or disability, otherwise, they could face claims of discrimination or inequality.
• In addition, providing support on a case-by-case basis requires employers to fully understand a condition in order to provide the correct pathway. Without a level of clinical expertise, funds could be wasted, and positive outcomes delayed, by not providing the most appropriate help or treatment.
• Many conditions are complex and long-term and when support is paid for on a case-by-case basis, it may not deliver adequate outcomes for the individual over the full period of time that they need it.
Employers who offer benefits such as group income protection will find that they are well-equipped to deal with staff in these situations which is the most cost-effective and comprehensive way to fund this.
Katharine Moxham continued: “We would encourage more employers to investigate how group income protection has helped other companies and how it could support theirs. It does of course give financial assurance but also a great deal of preventative and rehabilitation support too.”
– Ends –
1.
The research was undertaken by Opinium from 9-16 January 2024 among 500 HR decision-makers at UK businesses.
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
Notes for editors
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
