How to get your group IP insurer to work harder

By Tracey Ward, Head of Business Development and Marketing, Generali UK Employee Benefits

No-one likes a slacker. And your insurance providers are no exception. They should be giving you with the support you need to tackle absence and improve prevention: from absence tracking and early interventions to claims analysis and perhaps even fund matching for new wellbeing initiatives where you have identified a need. The latter could include anything from virtual and artificial intelligence GP services and health assessments to fitness solutions, cancer detection services and critical incident support.

Gone are the days when you bought insurance to help cover the potential cost of long-term sick pay and then put it in a drawer, only to blow off the dust when – and if - a claim came along. Times have changed. The traditional financial support is still there and still valued. But insurers also have a duty to help employers shoulder the burden of physical and mental ill-health, as well as a constantly retreating welfare state.

How to spot a self-starter from a slacker: