UK 
United States
We live in a high pressure world with people constantly on the go juggling commitments at home and work. It’s no wonder stress is a major cause of absenteeism in the workplace.
However, not all employers put mental and physical health on an equal footing. A recent report by the charity Business in the Community highlighted that many employees suffer in silence with 49% of employees not talking to their manager about a mental health issue. This suggests that employers need to look at more ways they can offer support to employees, which is where health cash plans can help. If you’re looking to put together a business case, these facts could help highlight the need for one:
- 9.9 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, anxiety and depression in 2014/15
- In 2014/15 stress accounted for 35% of all work-related ill health cases and 43% of all working days lost due to ill health
- 77% of employees said that they have experienced symptoms of poor mental health in their lives.
Now is a good time for employers to start thinking about the ways they can look after the mental wellbeing of their employees. With Christmas on the horizon it can be a stressful time of year and leave people feeling lonely. 29% of adults in the UK experience symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). While others suffer from the January blues or start the New Year with debt from Christmas which can often add to the stress.
Fortunately, health cash plans offer a growing number of benefits that can help employers look after the mental wellbeing of their employees:
- Confidential telephone counselling & support– Employees and their families can call 24/7 helplines for free support and counselling on a range of issues. They can get advice on everything from stress and bereavement to family matters and financial worries.
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) – Organisations of all shapes and sizes can provide EAPs, although in a recent report only 23% of employees said they had access to them. These can provide employees with face-to-face counselling sessions, as well as access to 24/7 support helplines.
- Cashback for relaxation therapies – Some health cash plans also provide cashback for reflexology, massages, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy and other therapies that can help to ease stress.
- Advice from Occupational Health professionals – Stress Prevention Programmes provide employees suffering from stress with professional support from their first day of absence. While HR teams can receive advice with fit notes, health monitoring and return to work plans.
- Online health assessments & lifestyle advice – Online portals can provide employees with access to health advice, including emotional support and personal coaching.
As well as covering everyday health needs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy costs, health cash plans can help you support the mental wellbeing of your employees. Whatever the size of your organisation, discover how a health cash plan could help you reduce absence and look after your most important asset — your employees.
Sources:
HSE
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress/stress.pdf
Business in the Community
http://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/news-opinion/news/press-release-mental-health-work-report-2016-millions-suffer-silence
The NHS
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx
