issue 23 - winter 2013 connect

ConnectEssential news and information for our intermediaries

Calendar competitionA Hotel Chocolat goody

bag to be won each month

Our new blogger: Andy Couchman

Issue 23 - Winter 2013

Introducing our new Bristol office

Back care - how you can help your clients

Annual CIPD absence management results published

Welcome to Connect2014 may be just around the corner, but we haven’t been slowing down at all at Simplyhealth.

I’m delighted to say that we have had a really positive response from the market on our new PMI products for both SMEs and individuals. You can read more about Simply Employee Health and Simply Personal Health on page 10.

The development of our new Bristol building, Simplyhealth House, is almost complete. Our employees will be working from there in the New Year. Simplyhealth House will be our new base for our private medical insurance operation and you can find out more about its development on page 8.

In this edition you can also learn more about the results of the CIPD Absence Management Survey, produced in partnership with Simplyhealth. We have sponsored the survey for the last four years, working with the CIPD on the design of the questionnaire and interpretation of the findings. Our partnership also extends beyond the report, we’ve held events with the CIPD and produced white papers. I hope you find the results of this latest report interesting (see page 6).

We talk back care on page 4; an issue that is prevalent in the workplace. Our Back Care pack for employers and Simplyhealth Back Care app may give you the opportunity to discuss back pain with your clients.

Andy Couchman returns as our new guest blogger. Don’t forget you can sign up to SimplyAdmin to service your clients’ policies. It’s more efficient and will save you time. See opposite for details.

Last but not least we’re delighted to enclose the 2014 Simplyhealth calendar. Every month we’ll give you the opportunity to win a Hotel Chocolat goody bag by simply answering a question about Simplyhealth and what we do*.

Let me take this opportunity to say have a great Christmas, thanks for your support in 2013 and we’ll be back with another edition of Connect in the New Year and with more exciting plans of how we can help you and your clients.

Raman

Raman Sankaran Sales Director

Simplyhealth calendar 2014

Win a Hotel Chocolat goody bag every month! (see terms on page 3)

*Terms and conditions apply, please see our calendar for full details.

2

SimplyAdmin is live: Sign up nowIf you haven’t done so already join us today. More and more intermediaries are signing up to manage their schemes with Simplyhealth online.

With Simply Admin you can:

• Create and update your own account

• Add and cancel members

• Update member details

• Upload and view documents

• Generate reports – including the production of P11d documents

• Download renewal documents

How do I sign up?

You will need to sign the relevant Terms of Business Agreement, but once this is done you will be able to access our new, fast online management tool. Although we are sure you will find it an intuitive and simple to use business tool we’ll give you a brochure containing full instructions about using SimplyAdmin.

For more information and to sign up to use SimplyAdmin call: 0800 294 5654 or email [email protected]

Is back pain affecting your clients’ businesses? 4

Employers adopt flexible approach to working patterns in effort to reduce absence

6

All steam ahead for our move to the new Simplyhealth House 8

A positive reaction to our new private medical insurance products 10

Our blogger, Andy Couchman, gives his thoughts on the CIPD/Simplyhealth report

13

Dental Survey 2013 – the results 14

In this edition

SimplyAdmin User Guide for Intermediaries

3

Is back pain affecting your clients’ businesses?Back pain is one of the biggest causes of workplace absence, with 7.6 million working days lost every year due to work related musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain*. With back pain being such a prevalent issue, there’s a good chance your clients will want to look for ways to prevent it.

To help employers address this issue we launched our back care pack last year, in partnership with experts at Nuffield Health. It provides a good talking point for you to start discussing how Simplyhealth’s plans can help your clients.

Content to get you talking

The pack is designed to encourage employees to be aware of their movements in and out of the workplace, to help prevent back pain. It includes posters and factsheets and a number of exercises to help employees look after their backs, both at work and at home. There’s also information on how to treat persistent pain for those employees with long term back problems.

In the back care pack you’ll find factsheets on:

• Desk exercises

• Prevention

• Back pain in pregnancy

• Back stretches

• Ergonomics

The information provided here is of a general nature and for information only. You are strongly advised to seek your own independent advice and you should not seek to rely on the general

information provided. Simplyhealth accepts no liability for reliance by any person on the information.Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, registered and incorporated in England and Wales, No.183035. Registered office: Hambleden House, Waterloo Court, Andover,

Hampshire, SP10 1LQ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Your calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality assurance purposes.

1205

012-

post

er

Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, often poor manual handling can be to blame.

Download our factsheet for simple tips to help you make the right decisions when manual handling and keep you injury free.

Back stretchesErgonomicsPreventionDesk exercisesManaging painManual handlingPregnancy

Visit: www.simplyhealth.co.uk/backcare

Are you lifting that correctly?

The information provided here is of a general nature and for information only. You are strongly advised to seek your own independent advice and you should not seek to rely on the general information provided. Simplyhealth accepts no liability for reliance by any person on the information.

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, registered and incorporated in England and Wales, No.183035. Registered office: Hambleden House, Waterloo Court, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1LQ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Your calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality assurance purposes.12

0501

2-po

ster

Exercise can help to reduce your back pain and manage it in the long term. For more simple exercises to help you take care of your back, download our factsheets.



While you’re standing therewhy don’t you try this stretch?

• Stand beside a wall• Raise your arm to ninety degrees

and put your arm on the wall with your elbow bent

• Stretch the front of your shoulder by moving forward and turning your body the opposite wayThe information provided here is of a general nature and for information only. You are strongly advised to seek your own independent advice and you should not seek to rely on the general

information provided. Simplyhealth accepts no liability for reliance by any person on the information.

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, registered and incorporated in England and Wales, No.183035. Registered office: Hambleden House, Waterloo Court, Andover,


1205

012-

post

er

Having the correct posture at your desk can help to prevent back pain. If you’re feeling

uncomfortable try this simple stretch.


Keep shuffling around to get

comfortable?

• Squeeze your shoulder blades

together and hold for five to ten

seconds

• Repeat five to six times

For more simple exercises you can incorporate into your

daily working routine to keep back pain away, download

our factsheets.


The information provided here is of a general nature and for information only. You are strongly advised to seek your own independent advice and you should not seek to rely on the general

information provided. Simplyhealth accepts no liability for reliance by any person on the information.

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, registered and incorporated in England and Wales, No.183035. Registered office: Hambleden House, Waterloo Court, Andover,


1205

012-

post

er

Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems,

but it can be prevented or managed with good posture, correct

manual handling techniques and regular exercise.

Download our factsheets for helpful tips, advice, stretches and

exercises you can use to keep back pain away.

Back stretches

Ergonomics

PreventionDesk exercises

Managing pain

Manual handling

Pregnancy


Most of us will have back pain

at some point in our lives

Make sure you’re prepared

Managing persistent pain

Why do you get pain?Acute pain in most cases disappears within three months

when the underlying cause of pain, usually in response to an

unidentifiable event, has been treated or has healed.

Chronic pain occurs because pain from an acute condition

remains active, despite the injury healing. Sometimes the

condition itself is of a chronic nature, such as arthritis, so

pain is due to an ongoing pathological process.

Chronic or persistent pain is often permanent. It is still

unknown why it occurs.A vicious cyclePersistent pain can be stressful and is frequently associated

with alterations in sleep, strain on relationships, social

withdrawal, fatigue, decreased concentration, depression,

reduced activity and impaired function. All these factors

interact with each other, so increase the pain you experience

and affect your quality of life. It creates a vicious cycle that

needs to be broken.

Take controlManaging your symptoms through addressing the physical,

psychological and social factors will improve your quality

of life.

ExerciseExercise can help to reduce your pain and manage it in the

long term, as well as provide many other psychological,

physical and social benefits. You should aim to do three main

types of exercise: • Stretching• Strengthening• Aerobic

Do exercise you enjoy, but in a paced manner so your pain does not

increase. You don’t have to cut out a

particular exercise completely if it is causing more pain, rather reduce the

amount you do.

The facts• 44% of all work related illnesses are musculoskeletal disorders1

• 7.6 million working days are lost every year due to work related

musculoskeletal disorders1• Musculoskeletal injuries make up 57% of long-term absence for manual

workers, and 46% for non-manual workers2 • An estimated 583,000 people in Great Britain suffer from a musculoskeletal

disorder they believe was caused or made worse by work1

• Chronic or persistent pain is a growing problem that results in recurrent

episodes and more frequent courses of treatment

• Persistent pain can cause significant disability

1Health & Safety Executive statistics

2CIPD Absence Management survey 2011 in partnership with Simplyhealth

Back stretches

Passive range of motion rotationLie on your back with your knees bent. Keeping your knees together, lower them to the floor as far as you can on one side and maintain the stretch. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. Note: Do not raise your shoulders off the floor when you lower your knees. Repeat ten times on each side.

Active range of motion pelvic tiltKneel down on your hands and knees with your knees directly under your hips and your hands directly under your shoulders. Keep your chin tucked in while you make your lower back as round as you can (tilt your pelvis forward). Return to the neutral position and then arch your back as much as you can (tilt your pelvis backward). Return to the starting position and repeat ten times.

FlexionLie on your back with your knees bent. Wrap your hands around your knees and pull them towards your chest. Raise your head and shoulders off the floor and bring them towards your knees. Hold this position for three seconds and repeat five times.

Passive range of motion extensionLie on your stomach with hands under your shoulders. Push up with your arms and gradually lift your head and back. Keep your buttocks relaxed and your pelvis against the ground. Push up only as far as it feels comfortable on the lower back, lower yourself and repeat ten times.

Strengthening glutes and bridgingLie on your back with your knees bent. Draw your belly button in towards your spine. Tighten your buttock muscles while lifting your buttocks off the ground until your trunk is aligned with your legs. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat ten times.

Exercise will help you to manage and reduce your pain, as well as act as a prevention. The benefits of exercise are plentiful; you can move more easily, reduce stiffness and tightness, improve your general fitness, make your bones stronger, improve your immune system, help you get a better nights sleep, improve your ability to function, help you to manage your weight, increase your confidence as you move without exaggerating your pain, boost your positive emotions and reduce depression.

You should aim to do stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercises. To get you started, try these back stretches below. If you have any pre-existing issues, please discuss these with your GP or Physiotherapist before completing these exercises.

ErgonomicsA brief guide to perfect postureTry not to slouch.

Avoid sustained static postures.

Use a foot rest if the feet do not touch the ground.

Adjustable chair arms provide additional support

for the upper body when not typing. If the armrests

restrict desk access, consider removing them altogether.

Touch typists can position the monitor so that the visible

screen top is just below eye level. Any document holder

should be at screen height and in the same focal plane

to minimise head twisting and tilting. You may also like a

wrist rest for support when you are not typing.

Copy typists may prefer the screen to one side

and the document holder directly in front. However,

the best place for the document holder is between the

monitor and the keyboard.

Remember that even appropriate postures become

inappropriate when maintained for too long. Changing

your posture and taking frequent breaks from your desk

will keep your muscles working.

Move the chair close to the desk and sit back on the

seat. Adjust the chair back so that the upper body is

relaxed and supported. Raise the chair seat so that, with

the upper arms vertical, the elbows are level with or just

above the desk.

Keep your chair unlocked and make full use of the chair

movement.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy related back pain is very common and can affect between 50-75% of women at some point during their pregnancy. Pain is often located in the lower back and can radiate to the buttocks and hips. Lower back pain can occur at anytime during pregnancy, but it has been reported that the most discomfort can occur between the 5th and 7th months of pregnancy. It can be caused by a number of reasons:

MechanicalIt is normal to gain between 10kg and 12kg during pregnancy which causes a shift in the body’s centre of gravity. This can cause your pelvis to tilt forward, increasing the natural inward curve in your lower back. This anterior tilt can cause your bottom muscles to lengthen and weaken which reduces their ability to provide stability to the pelvis and lower back.

HormonalA significant proportion of women do experience pain in their first trimester when mechanical and postural changes do not yet play a significant role in the cause of the pain. This suggests that pain can be due to the laxity that is caused when a hormone called Relaxin is released. This hormone targets the ligaments supporting the pelvis to allow the movement which is required during the delivery and growth of your baby. This laxity means that the joints in your pelvis and lower back are more mobile and this extra movement can be a source of pain.

MuscularThe abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate the growing baby. As the muscles stretch, they can not provide the same support to the body’s posture which increases the weight that passes through your lower back.

The pelvic floor muscles run from your tailbone at the back to your pubic bone at the front. They work to support your pelvic organs, control bladder and bowel function and have a role in stabilising the pelvis. During pregnancy the weight of the growing baby puts increasing pressure on the pelvic floor which can become weaker. This can lead to problems with stress incontinence and reduces the muscles’ ability to provide stability to the pelvis.

Post natalLower back pain during pregnancy usually subsides quite quickly after birth. Some women can get lower back pain after birth even if they have not had back pain during pregnancy. This can be due to muscular strain to the lower back muscles and pelvic floor during delivery and uncomfortable postures during labour. The sudden weight loss from the delivery of the baby causes the centre of gravity to move back to its original position, causing the posture to change quickly, but without giving the muscles time to respond. Physical demands placed upon new mums can also cause lower back pain. A lot of time is spent feeding a new baby so it is important to get into a good posture when doing this.

Tips to prevent or manage lower back pain• At home try to keep your upper body upright and bend from your knees

• When vacuuming move forwards and backwards in a straight line rather than rotating your back. Avoid vacuuming the stairs as this encourages bending and twisting

• When feeding your baby make sure you are comfortable first. Sit right at the back of the chair and place a little rolled up towel in the small of your back to give you some support. Place one or two pillows on your lap to help support the weight of the baby• When changing your baby try to use a changing table. If this is not available you can change your baby on the bed by kneeling on the floor• When lying down on your side you may find it more comfortable to place a pillow under your top leg and also underneath the bump. This prevents twisting in your back while you are asleep• If you do experience lower back pain you may benefit from using something warm like a hot water bottle or taking a warm bath

• The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists supports the use of moderate exercise during your pregnancy to help reduce the onset of lower back pain

We understand the demands of a busy work and home

life, but you need not separate your work time and

your exercise time. This factsheet will show you how

to incorporate some simple exercises into your daily

working routine to prevent pain, keep your joints healthy

and your productivity high.

Problem - most of us have encountered spending a

proportion of the day fidgeting to get comfortable at our

workspace.Solution - try to move and change posture regularly

throughout the day. Setting reminders about posture

breaks can also help.

TipsDrinking water regularly, apart from keeping you

hydrated, helps to get you up and moving throughout

the day. Keep a water bottle on your desk and fill it up

regularly.Simple changes in tasks, such as walking over to a

colleague rather than emailing them can help you to get

moving and change posture regularly.Simple stretching exercises can assist in improving

circulation, concentration, reducing fatigue and muscle

tightness. Have a look at the exercises below which can

be used to stretch the neck, back and upper limbs. If

you have any pre-existing issues, please discuss these

with a relevant medical professional before completing

these exercises.

Problem - the rise in sedentary lifestyles is contributing

to many health problems, including back pain, with 20%

of people in Great Britain taking a walk “less than once a

year or never” (Office for National Statistics).Solution - staying active at work can help reduce the

risk of you experiencing pain. Try to take a posture break

every hour to help avoid the onset of symptoms.

Problem - long spells of computer work can cause

fatigue, eye strain, upper limb problems and backache.

Solution - try to break up your tasks to allow changes in

posture. Take breaks before fatigue hits, rather than to

recover.

Problem - static positioning can increase the risk of you

experiencing pain symptoms.Solution - completing simple stretching exercises is one

way to combat this. These can be done whilst at your

desk or combined with another task, for example whilst

at the photocopier.

Stand beside a wall. Raise your arm to ninety degrees

and put your arm on the wall with your elbow bent.

Stretch the front of your shoulder by moving forward

and turning your body the opposite way.

Sit tall. Lock your hands together at chin height and

rotate your trunk.

Desk exercises

1

2

Prevention

Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems. Most adults have an episode of back pain at some time in their lives, but prevention is better than cure!

Back pain can be prevented by keeping a good posture, practicing safe lifting and handling techniques, strengthening and stretching the muscles supporting the back and losing any excess weight.Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles contribute greatly to back pain. Whether you’re at work or at home, if you want to keep your back healthy - keep it moving and support it properly.

PostureAt work

Have a look at the ergonomics factsheet for a guide to perfect posture at work.

At HomeGetting out and about

When you are travelling to and from work, try not to carry a bag on one shoulder. A rucksack is a much better idea as it distributes the load evenly and allows your arms to swing freely, thus balancing your stride. It’s especially useful on the tube or bus as it leaves your hands free to hold on. If you do have to carry a handbag or briefcase, try to minimise the contents so that it is not too heavy. Try to alternate the shoulders you carry it on.If you wear high heels, try to only wear them at work. Walking to and from work in high heels can tilt your pelvis too far forward and place unnecessary strain on the lower back.

Gardening and DIY

Both of these activities can be particularly hazardous to your back. Try doing some warming up exercises before starting any physical work and always work within your limits, taking regular breaks. It is better to take a little longer mowing the lawn than not be able to do it at all because of a back injury.

Sleeping

Check the suitability of your mattress with a simple test. Lie on your back and slide your hand (palm down) into the small of your back. If there is a large gap, the mattress is probably too hard. If you have to squeeze your hand in, then it is probably too soft. If your hand slides in fairly easily, the mattress is probably just right.

If you have neck pain, try making a butterfly pillow. Tie a bandage or stocking around the centre of the pillow and place your neck in the middle.

Jobs around the house

• Take care when lifting children or heavy objects• Stand your washing up bowl on the draining board so that you don’t have to slump over the sink, straining your lower back

• Sit down to prepare vegetables• When vacuuming, keep your upper body upright, with the cleaner close to your body and use short sweeping movements

• Make sure your ironing board is at waist height (most people have the board too low)

• When making beds, kneel down to tuck in the corners rather than stooping

Manual handlingSafe manual handling is not so much about dos and don’ts but more about assessing risk. Understanding the task at hand

and your own physical capabilities will help you make the right decisions when manual handling and keep you injury free!

Injuries associated with manual handling are usually down to a combination of poor planning and poor lifting

techniques. This factsheet will help you with both of these factors.

PlanningBefore rushing into a manual handling situation, ask yourself the following questions:

Is the load heavy or difficult to grasp?Remember a small load does not always mean a light

load. If you have to strain to carry the load, it’s too

heavy, so use manual handling equipment or the help of

a colleague.

Does the task involve carrying the load a

considerable distance?If the load is carried for an excessive distance, be aware

that physical stresses are prolonged.

Does the task involve insufficient rest or recovery

periods?It is important to ensure that there are adequate

opportunities for rest (i.e. breaks from work) or recovery

(i.e. changing to another task which uses a different set

of muscles).

Is there enough space to perform the task?

Look around before you lift and as you carry, making

sure you can see where you are walking and where you

are going to put down the load.

Is the load unpredictable?People or animals fall under this category. You need to

be prepared to keep complete control of the load.

Does the task involve frequent or prolonged physical

effort?A quite modest load, handled very frequently, can create

as large a risk of injury as one-off handling of a heavier

load. Prolonged physical stresses will often be made

worse by a relatively fixed posture, which is an important

consideration since blood flow to the muscles will be

reduced, causing a rapid increase in fatigue and a

corresponding fall in muscular efficiency.

What are your individual capabilities?The ability to carry out manual handling safely varies

between individuals. It will depend upon factors such

as age, height, fitness levels, health status (such as a

history of lower back pain) and confidence. Know your

limits. There is a difference between what you can lift

and what you can lift safely. Regular back exercises can

help increase your capacity for manual handling.Is the load packed correctly?Make sure the weight is balanced and packed so it

won’t move around.

To request a copy of our back care pack call 0800 284 7303 or email [email protected]

Your guide to

encouraging back

care in the workplaceAbout Simplyhealth

At Simplyhealth we’ve been helping people access affordable healthcare for 140 years. As we

only focus on healthcare, you can rely on us for our specialist knowledge. We help nearly four

million people with their health and 20,000 companies choose us as their healthcare provider,

including the John Lewis Partnership, British Airways, Royal Mail and Tesco.

We’re committed to delivering exceptional personal customer service, and go out of our way

to do the right thing, not the easy thing. All of our customer care advisors are based in the UK

and we always try to avoid automated telephone systems.

We’ve won many awards for our health plans and customer service. Most recently we were

named Best Health Insurance Provider at the Consumer Moneyfacts Awards 2011.

We follow mutual values and care about our communities. Last year we donated £1.6 million to

local causes and national charities.

About Nuffield

Nuffield Health is the UK’s largest not for profit healthcare organisation. We provide clinical,

fitness and wellbeing services to the general public, private organisations and the NHS.

We have been setting the standard in the health sector since 1957. We have a unique

approach to improving health in the UK, putting the quality of care and satisfaction of

individuals and companies at the heart of what we do and, in the process, improving the health

of millions of people.

In 2008 Nuffield Health created a pioneering new approach to health by integrating prevention,

cure and general fitness and wellbeing to ensure our customers benefit from a complete

healthcare service. Incorporating fitness and wellbeing centres into our portfolio of hospitals

enables us to capitalise on 50 years of clinical expertise and improve proactive health provision

in the UK.

Nuffield Health believes that preventative health is the future of healthcare. The NHS will

struggle to deliver these services in a way that is meaningful for the UK consumer so it will

become essential for individuals to take control of their own health - ideally with the support

of their employer. As a not for profit organisation, we can re-invest all surplus into helping our

clients and members to achieve this.

Those we work with benefit from our pioneering approach which brings together fitness,

prevention and cure to create a true end to end service and arm our customers with the

support, information and facilities to get healthy – and stay healthy.

www.simplyhealth.co.uk/backcare

www.simplyhealth.co.uk/backcare

1205

012

1205012-folder-e-FINAL.indd 2

13/09/2012 09:55

*Source: Health and Safety Executive

4

Back pain while driving

We’ve also now included a new factsheet explaining how to prevent back pain while driving. It’s full of information, such as the adjustable features to look for on a car to ensure it is providing the correct support.

To request a copy of our back care pack call 0800 284 7303 or email [email protected]

DrivingGood posture plays a key role in the prevention of back pain. However, any posture, no matter how good it is, could ultimately lead to discomfort. Therefore, it is important to adopt a range of comfortable driving positions and to make frequent changes to help delay the onset of discomfort.The greater the number of adjustable features within a car, the greater the likelihood of achieving a good and comfortable posture. Look for certain features in a car, such as those listed below.

Seating• Comfortable and supportive with independent height and tilt adjustment• Electronic adjustment controls that are easy to use and positioned so that poor posture is not encouraged• Material that does not create discomfort

Seat base• Adequate leg length so thighs are adequately supported • Wider than hips and thighs• Adequate height adjustment ensuring feet can operate pedals without stretching, all controls are easily reached, display instruments can be seen and good all round vision

Seat belt• Adjustable and comfortable

Back rest• Reaches the shoulders and does not obstruct rearward vision• Wide enough to support shoulders• Provides continuous, gentle support along the length of the back• An adjustable lumbar support that fits body shape and is comfortable, with ideally up or down and in or out adjustment • A lumbar roll if seat lacks support

Steering wheel• In or out, up or down and tilt adjustment• Power steering• Centrally positioned and not offset to prevent rotation of the spine• Does not obstruct the display panel

Pedals and gearbox• An automatic gearbox can be helpful• Centrally positioned pedals that have adequate spacing and are not offset to avoid tension on the spine

Mobile phone• Hands free cradle, microphone and speaker appropriately positioned to encourage good posture

Employee app-eal

To help your clients’ employees manage back pain and reduce sickness absence, we’ve recently launched the free Simplyhealth Back Care app.

The app is an easy way to find information, exercises and videos to help employees manage and prevent back pain. It also includes the facility to search for an acupuncturist, physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor nearby.

The app can be downloaded today for smartphones and tablets from the App Store and on Google Play™.

Simplyhealth is donating £1 to the charity BackCare for every download, up to a total of £120,000.

Who is BackCare?

Founded in 1968, BackCare aims to significantly reduce the burden of back pain by providing information and education to those affected by back pain. To find out more about the charity visit www.backcare.org.uk

5

Employers adopt flexible approach to working patterns in effort to reduce absenceThe number of employers making changes to working patterns in a positive move to try and reduce long term absence levels has increased by 20% in the last year alone. That’s according to the 2013 CIPD/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey.

The benefit of changes to working patterns has been recognised by many employers, with over 70% of organisations reporting a positive impact on employee motivation and employee engagement. A further 46% also stated they were using flexible working options to support employees with mental health problems.

The annual CIPD/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey reveals that, after a small decrease reported in last year’s survey, absence is back up to the levels observed in 2011 and 2010, at an average of 7.6 days per employee. Absence levels are highest in the public services sector (8.7 days per employee per year) and lowest in the manufacturing and production sector (6 days per employee per year). Absence levels tend to increase with organisation size, regardless of sector.

With absence levels on the rise again, employers are attaching growing importance to making changes to working patterns and environments, as a means of managing long term absence levels: 85% of employers reported that they’d adjusted working patterns this year, compared to just 65% in last year’s survey. This spike bucks the trend of previous years, with figures only marginally improving by 2% between 2010 and 2012, and over 70% of these organisations report that introducing flexible working opportunities in the past year has had a positive impact on absence levels.

AB

SEN

CE M

AN

AG

EM

EN

T 2013

53

2013ill (47%) as those who are not planning to make any redundancies (26%).48 The public sector are particularly likely to report an increase in people coming to work ill: 70% of the public sector who are planning redundancies noticed an increase in people coming to work ill compared with 41% of the private sector. And 36% of the public sector who aren’t planning redundancies noticed an increase in people coming to work ill compared with 25% of the private sector.

In a new question this year organisations that noticed an increase in ‘presenteeism’ were asked what the three most common illnesses are that people come to work with. Minor illnesses were among the most common for almost all organisations (96%), followed by stress (43%) and musculoskeletal injuries (39%). The public sector are particularly likely to include stress among the most common illnesses that people come to work with (62% compared with 34% of the private sector and 37% of non-profits). Just over a third across all sectors referred to recurring medical conditions (for example asthma, angina and allergies), a quarter to back pain and one in seven to mental ill-health (for example clinical depression and anxiety).

In previous years we have pointed to the potentially damaging impact of ‘presenteeism’ on organisations’ effectiveness and productivity as well as negative effects for the individual. Ill employees are not only less productive, but may transmit their illness to others, take longer to recover, make costly mistakes and negatively affect their organisation’s reputation. Moreover, ‘presenteeism’ is a sign of anxiety and may have longer-term consequences if not addressed.

As in previous years we found that, regardless of redundancy plans, organisations who noted an increase in ‘presenteeism’ over the past year were more likely to report an increase in stress-related absence over the same period (64% compared with 40% of those who did not report an increase in people coming to work ill).49 Similarly they were

more likely to report an increase in mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression (53% compared with 33% of those who did not report an increase in people coming to work ill).50

Overall, a third of organisations (34%), regardless of sector, reported that they had taken steps to discourage ‘presenteeism’ over the past 12 months. Just half of those who had noted an increase in people coming to work ill had taken steps to discourage it, regardless of organisational size or sector.

This year we explored what steps these organisations had taken to discourage ‘presenteeism’. The most common approach, used by three-quarters of those who had taken steps, is to advise line managers to send sick employees home (Table 33). Nearly three-fifths had educated employees on the importance of staying home when sick, although this is more common in smaller organisations (fewer than 50 employees: 67%; 250–999 employees: 50%; 5,000+ employees: 32%).51 Utilising flexible working options to enable people to work remotely if appropriate is also used by nearly three-fifths of organisations, regardless of size or sector. Fewer (41%) discouraged people from working from home if not appropriate, for example if they have the flu.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of non-profits had taken steps to foster a culture that discourages people from coming to work sick; however, this is far less common in the public sector (28%; private sector 45%).52 In contrast, using staff surveys to identify if presenteeism is an issue is far more common in the public (23%) and non-profit (22%) sectors than the private (3%).

Focus on employee well-beingJust over a fifth of organisations (22%) report they have increased their focus on employee well-being and health promotion as a result of the economic context.53 This is a slight decrease on the last two years, back in line with levels from 2010 (2012: 32%; 2011: 32%; 2010: 23%).54 Nevertheless, as in

AB

SEN

CE M

AN

AG

EM

EN

T 2013

9

2013

RATES OF EMPLOYEE ABSENCE

Overall, four-fifths of organisations record their

annual employee absence rate (2013: 81%;

2012: 82%; 2011: 81%). In line with previous

years’ findings, public sector organisations

are most likely to record this information and

private services the least (public sector: 95%;

private services: 72%; manufacturing and

production: 83% and non-profits: 85%).1 This year

organisations were also asked if they measure

employee absence levels by gender and/or age.

Only a minority (4%) report they do this.

As in previous years, there is considerable

variation in reported levels of absence, with a few

organisations reporting very high absence levels.2

In order to avoid a few extreme cases skewing

the results, we report the 5% trimmed mean

(Table 1).3 This suggests that, on average, absence

has increased compared with last year by nearly

one day per employee, back in line with levels

observed in 2011 and 2010.

Sector variationsFigure 1 suggests that the overall increase in

absence levels is due to higher absence levels in

the private services sector and the public sector.

In both of these sectors average absence levels

dropped considerably last year and this year they

have returned to levels more similar to those in

2011, although average absence levels are still

slightly lower than 2010–11 in the public sector.

In the private services sector this year’s average

absence is higher than previous years; however,

the level of variation among organisations is also

considerably higher.

Average absence rates in the private services and public sector have increased compared with last year’s low levels, although there remains considerable variation at organisational level, particularly in the private sector.

Table 1: Average level of employee absence, per employee per annum

Average working time lost per year (%) Average number of days lost per employee per year

5% trimmed mean

Standard deviation Mean

5% trimmed mean

Standard deviation Mean

2013: all employees 3.3 3.9 3.8 7.6 9.0 8.6

2012: all employees 3.0 3.3 3.4 6.8 7.5 7.7

2011: all employees 3.4 3.5 3.8 7.7 8.0 8.7

2010: all employees 3.2 1.9 3.4 7.4 4.3 7.7Base: 393 (2013); 498 (2012); 403 (2011); 429 (2010)

Championing better work and working lives

The CIPD’s purpose is to champion better work and working lives by improving practices in people and

organisation development, for the benefit of individuals, businesses, economies and society. Our research work plays

a critical role – providing the content and credibility for us to drive practice, raise standards and offer advice, guidance

and practical support to the profession. Our research also informs our advocacy and engagement with policy-makers

and other opinion-formers on behalf of the profession we represent.

To increase our impact, in service of our purpose, we’re focusing our research agenda on three core themes: the future

of work, the diverse and changing nature of the workforce, and the culture and organisation of the workplace.

WORKOur focus on work includes what

work is and where, when and how

work takes place, as well as

trends and changes in skills and

job needs, changing career

patterns, global mobility,

technological developments and

new ways of working.

WORKPLACEOur focus on the workplace includes how organisations are

evolving and adapting, understanding of culture, trust and

engagement, and how people are best organised, developed,

managed, motivated and rewarded to perform at their best.

WORKFORCEOur focus on the workforce includes

demographics, generational shifts,

attitudes and expectations, the

changing skills base and trends

in learning and education.Annual survey report 2013

2013ABSENCEMANAGEMENT

in partnership with

WORKFORCEWORK

WORKPLACE

6

Employee wellbeing

A robust wellbeing strategy can be a key element that helps to drive down absence rates.

The findings show that just 41% of organisations report they have a wellbeing strategy in place. However, public sector organisations are twice as likely to have a wellbeing strategy as their counterparts in other sectors (public sector: 67%; private sector: 33%; non profits: 36%).

Most organisations surveyed provide one or more wellbeing benefits to all employees, even if they don’t have a specific wellbeing strategy. The most common wellbeing benefits on offer continue to be access to counselling services and Employee Assistance Programmes.

Overall, two thirds of organisations offer some sort of insurance or protection initiative. Private medical insurance is the most common type of insurance offered and is provided by half of organisations, although 27% just offer it to certain employee groups.

Encouragingly, one in five organisations across the country are expecting to boost their spend on wellbeing benefits in 2014. However, this figure is affected by the type of organisation and whether or not they evaluate the impact of their wellbeing spend.

Currently only 18% of organisations say that they evaluate the impact that their spend on wellbeing benefits is having. These are more likely to be larger companies or those in the public sector. These types of organisations are also twice as likely to increase their wellbeing benefit spend next year.

Simplyhealth view:

It is great to see that a growing number of organisations are placing more attention

on wellbeing, nevertheless the survey results demonstrate there is still room for

more employers to follow suit.

Introducing wellbeing packages can have a positive impact on employee productivity and can

help to reduce absence. Employees feel cared for and in turn are more motivated to achieve

company goals, resulting in a productive workforce which has a positive effect on

the bottom line. Happy employees are also much easier to retain, while a robust

benefits package can act as a draw for new talent.

You can obtain a copy of the report by visiting www.simplyhealth.co.uk/absencesurvey

7

All steam ahead for our move to the new Simplyhealth HouseOur new building in Bristol is almost complete. We’re now making the finishing touches to the internal layout of Simplyhealth House which will be the base for our private medical insurance operation. We’re planning for our Bristol based employees to begin working from it in the New Year.

Simplyhealth House is a six storey building that overlooks Clifton Downs. It’s the first building that we have developed and replaces the leased James Tudor House on Victoria Street, which we have occupied for the past 17 years.

We are very proud of our new building, which will provide a much brighter and spacious open plan working environment for our employees in Bristol. It provides a modern base for our private medical insurance operation that gives us the ability to expand in future and this is an exciting moment for Simplyhealth.

We have planned the move from James Tudor House to Simplyhealth House meticulously and we’re absolutely confident that customers, clients and intermediaries will continue to enjoy the high levels of service that they have come to expect from Simplyhealth.

Last year we announced that we are to base our entire private medical insurance operation in Bristol, creating a Centre of Excellence to serve customers, clients and intermediaries. The move to Simplyhealth House does not affect our operation in Letchworth, which will remain open as usual until the end of June 2014.

8

More about our new building

Simplyhealth House is built on the site of a derelict building that had been empty for some years. We managed to recycle 99% of the materials from its demolition.

The new building is designed to minimise energy use and carbon emissions and will have targets for using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.

Simplyhealth House will include a new corporate suite on the top floor which will provide a much nicer environment for you to meet your key contacts at Simplyhealth. We’ve included the full address and a map to help you find us when you come to visit our new building. We look forward to seeing you.

SimplyhealthHouse

Clifton Down

Ladi

es M

ile

La

dies

Mile

Ladi

es M

ile

CliftonCollegePreparatorySchool

St John’sCE VC Primary School

Redland

Redland Hill

Redland Rd

Bristol Zoo Gardens

Clifton and Durdham Downs

Leigh Woods

Circular Rd

Westb

ury Rd

A

4018

Whiteladies R

d

Whiteladies R

d

Whitelad

ies Rd

A41

76

A4176

U

pper

Bel

grav

e Rd

B4467

B4467

B4467

Portway

A4

Portway

A

4

Portw

ay

A4

Stoke Rd

Stoke Rd

Where we are

BRISTOL

River Avon

M32

M32

A38

A38

A38A37

A4A4

A4

A4

A4

A4

M5

M5

M5

Please make a note of our new address: Simplyhealth, Simplyhealth House, Redland Hill, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6SH The postcode for sat nav users is: BS6 6XL

All our telephone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.

9

A positive reaction to our new private medical insurance productsIn our last edition of Connect we introduced you to our two new private medical insurance policies: Simply Employee Health and Simply Personal Health. Both have been received well by the market and we’re already seeing strong sales results.

Simply Employee Health

This flexible, affordable and sustainable policy has been designed for small to medium sized businesses. The table below details the Core Cover

Core Cover

Benefit Cover

Specialist consultations Full cover

Scans and tests Full cover

Treatment Full cover

GP referred treatment Up to £750

Specialist fees Full cover within the limits in our fee schedule

Rapid Access to physiotherapy Full cover

Oral surgery Full cover for specific conditions

Pregnancy and childbirth complications Full cover

Parent accommodation Full cover

Private ambulance Full cover

Home nursing Full cover

NHS cash benefit £150 each day or night

New child payment £150 each child

24/7 advice and counselling helpline Full cover

Cancer cover

Surgery Full cover within the limits in our fee schedule

Chemotherapy Full cover

Radiotherapy Full cover

Treatment for side effects prescribed by your specialist

Full cover

End of life care A payment of £500

Other cancer services recommended by your specialist

Full cover

Preventative treatment Surgery to prevent further cancer

Monitoring your condition Up to five years

Wigs Up to £250

Psychiatric cover

Out-patient treatment Full cover

In-patient or day-patient treatment Up to 28 days

10

Flexing up

Your clients can flex up by adding choices such as enhanced cash benefits and travel cover.

The flex down options can be selected to remove elements, such as cancer and psychiatric cover, to help contain costs.

Hospital networks

There are three choices of hospital network:

• National – providing national coverage

• Metropolitan – covering additional hospitals around London

• Connections – an assisted referral option with a more limited hospital choice

Excess options

There are a range of excess options to help reduce premiums. The selected excess amount is only applied once each year for each person included on the policy.

Core Cover

Choice 3Choice 1 Choice 2

Choice 1 – Enhanced benefits

Benefit Cover

Dental accident treatment Up to £5,000 each policy year

Employee Assistance ProgrammeUp to six face to face counselling sessions per incident

NHS cash benefit Increased to £300 each day or night

New child payment Increased to £300 each child

Choice 2 – Ongoing care

Benefit Cover

Private GP consultations, immunisations and medical reports

Up to £250 each policy year

Consultations and tests for a chronic condition

Up to £250 each policy year

Monitoring cancer Increased to up to 10 years

Choice 3 – Travel coverWorldwide, annual, multi-trip travel insurance, covering trips up to 30 days in duration.

Core Cover

Choice 6Choice 4 Choice 5

Choice 4 – Limited cover for out-patient treatment

Benefit Cover

Out-patient specialist consultations and treatment

Up to £1,000 each policy year

GP referred treatment Up to £500 within the £1,000 limit

Choice 5 – Remove psychiatric cover

After point of diagnosis

Choice 6 – Remove cancer cover

After point of diagnosis

11

Partnerships that help your clients

Simply Employee Health includes innovative features that can help employees get the help they need quickly and smoothly.

The Rapid Access Physiotherapy Service included within the Core Cover is designed to remove the need for GP referral and allow individuals to speak to a physiotherapist over the phone or face to face.

Also within the Core Cover, employees have access to Denplan’s network of dentists for certain treatment, which allows them to be seen quickly and at a time and place convenient to them.

The Simplyhealth Mental Health Management Service allows for faster access to a consultant psychiatrist by removing the need to see a GP allowing for faster diagnosis and treatment.

Simply Personal Health Peace of mind for individuals and families

Simply Personal Health is a well rounded, competitive policy, ideal for the healthcare needs of your individual clients.

It is easy to understand with Diagnosis as the base cover and the ability to add benefit choices.

Diagnosis: This module is mandatory and includes diagnostic tests and use of our Rapid Access Physiotherapy Service among many other benefits.

Choice - Treatment: Cover for hospital charges, specialists’ fees, psychiatric treatment and therapies including Simplyhealth Rapid Access Physiotherapy.

Choice - Heart and cancer cover: Either in full or a limit of £50,000 for heart conditions and £50,000 for cancer for the policy lifetime.

Supporting benefits include parent accommodation, private ambulance, home nursing and NHS cash benefit.

Hospital networks

As with Simply Employee Health there are three choices of hospital network: National, Metropolitan and Connections.

For more information about Simply Employee Health and Simply Personal Health call 0800 294 7303 or email [email protected]

Effective from 1 January 2014

Simply Employee HealthYour group policy document and guideNational and Metropolitan network

SIMPLYHEALTH

Effective from 1 July 2013

Simply Personal HealthConnections

Your policy document and guide

12

Our new guest bloggerAndy Couchman is a recognised industry expert and publisher of the Protection Review. As a guest blogger he reports and comments on key news and information affecting the world of health insurance.

Closing gaps

I have recently been reading the annual CIPD/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey.

The report highlights gaps between what people think and do, what products they actually have and what they should perhaps have.

Nowhere was this more apparent than in the finding that, while employers typically offer wellbeing benefits to all their staff, when it came to private medical insurance, more (27%) provided it only for some staff, compared to 23% who offered it to all.

Such gaps create opportunities for advisers. For example, if a firm offers private medical insurance only to its senior managers, should it also offer some form of health insurance to its entire staff? Private medical insurance may be ideal, but it is not the only solution. For example, a firm could offer a health cash plan or dental insurance.

If it does, should the firm pay or the employee? If it were your or my firm, we would want our employer to pay – and many do. However, many firms will not do so, but there is still scope for a voluntary scheme to be set up, with the employee paying the premiums.

Is that a lesser alternative? In some ways yes (we’d all prefer someone else to pay!), but look at it another way. We know from other research that many people do not buy health insurance because they know little about it and expect it to cost more than it actually does. Offering a voluntary scheme to its employees means an employer can help its people to buy health insurance solutions in a convenient way and with access to expert advice – from financial advisers.

For the employer, the various types of health insurance now available all could have a positive impact on their sickness absence and on their employees’ wellbeing, regardless of whether the employer pays. But if employees are benefiting, perhaps they’d like to contribute something too? So, a firm may sponsor a voluntary private medical insurance scheme, but also pay for a small health cash plan for all its staff. Then, once they have started to see the benefits, the opportunity is to help them close the gap between what they offer now and what they could offer in future.

Helping clients close gaps – it’s a useful strategy for any adviser.

Andy Couchman

Andy Couchman

You can find out more about the CIPD/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey at www.simplyhealth.co.uk/absencesurvey

13

Dental Survey 2013 – the resultsEarlier this year we released the results of our 2013 dental survey. This is the eighth year that we have asked people a range of questions about their attitudes towards their dental health.

This year, we asked 5,000 people for their views on topics including cost, access and the impact dental health can have on the rest of the body.

The impact of cost

The results show that with increasing pressure on financial budgets, cost is unsurprisingly still the main reason why people are putting off visiting the dentist.

Bad dental habits

As children, most of us are taught to brush our teeth twice a day. However, our survey shows that two in ten people admit to not brushing their teeth in the morning and at night.

Whilst almost a quarter (23%) of UK adults avoid fizzy or acidic drinks, only 11% leave half an hour after eating before brushing and even less (9%) drink water after eating fruit or drinking fruit juices.

The impact on overall health

Encouragingly the results of our dental survey show that 67% of people are aware that the health of their mouth can have an impact on other elements of their health. Many detailed research studies have examined the impact that dental health has on conditions such as cardiovascular disease and mouth cancer (see references).

• A potential link between dental health and cardiovascular disease has been highlighted in many research studies1. Yet, only a third of people in our survey were aware of that link

• More people (59%) were aware that poor dental health is linked to mouth cancer. A link that is well documented in other research2

• Less than a quarter (24%) of people in our survey were aware that having diabetes can increase the risk of gum disease, which is a fact supported by other research3

• Significantly four out of ten (40%) UK adults don’t know that having osteoporosis can increase the risk of tooth loss, yet this link has been highlighted in research studies4. It’s worrying to see that 22% of people in our survey said that they wouldn’t change their current dental habits even if they thought poor oral health was linked to more serious health conditions

1BMJ 2010;340:c2451 doi:10.1136/bmj.c2451 www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c24512British Dental Health Foundation 2013. Available from www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/mouth-cancer/mouth-cancer [accessed 15 April 2013]3Jansson,H., Lindholm, E., Lindh, C., Groop, L., and Bratthall, G., 2006. Tyoe 2 diabetes and risk for periodontal disease: a role for dental health awareness. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Vol 33, issue 6, pp408-4144Nicopoulou-Karayianni K, et al. Tooth loss and osteoporosis: the osteodent study. J Clin Periodontol, 2009, 36, 190-7

One in ten British adults haven’t been to the dentist in five to ten years. 28% said the reason that they don’t go to the dentist more often is because they can’t afford it and a further 12% are worried that the cost will be too high.

We also found that over half (52%) of British adults were concerned about being able to afford dental care in the future. Only 8% of those with bills in the last year of over £200 had dental insurance or a dental payment plan.

Although cost is an issue access to NHS dentistry is seen to be steadily increasing, with over 70% of respondents seeing an NHS dentist on their last visit; an increase of 2% on last year.

14

Employers playing their part

Encouragingly the survey also revealed that employers are being more lenient when it comes to allowing time off for dental appointments. In 2012, 9% of individuals said they were unable to visit their dentist more frequently as they couldn’t get the time off work. Now in 2013, this figure has reduced by over 50% to just 4% of individuals who cite this as a reason.

Simplyhealth’s view

It’s encouraging to learn that more employers are allowing their employees time off to attend dental appointments. Enabling employees time off to visit the dentist on a regular basis can help prevent problems occurring, which if left could result in more time away from the workplace.

By not visiting the dentist regularly, people could be putting their dental health at risk and it may ultimately end up costing them more in the long term.

How Simplyhealth can help your clients

Our Simply Dental Plan covers check-ups, treatment, accidents and emergencies, up to annual limits.

It’s designed to help customers cover the cost of routine visits to their dentist and provides cover for the unexpected.

The Simply Cash Plan also includes a dental benefit that provides cash back for check-ups, treatment and hygienist fees up to annual limits.

Our health cash plans help people to take responsibility for their everyday health.

To find out more about how Simplyhealth can help your clients’ employees with dental health call 0800 294 7303 or email [email protected]

Denplan

Simplyhealth now includes Denplan the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist.

Denplan has been established for 27 years and currently has 6,500 dentist members, treating approximately 1.8 million patients across the UK, as well as a significant portfolio of corporate clients.

Payment plans arranged by Denplan allow patients to spread the cost of their private dental care through a fixed monthly fee, reducing the chance of receiving costly dental bills. All the plans include worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover (Supplementary Insurance) as well as access to Denplan’s 24 hour Worldwide Dental Emergency Helpline.

To find out more visit www.denplan.co.uk

15

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Simplyhealth Access is registered and incorporated in England and Wales, registered no. 183035. Registered office, Hambleden House, Waterloo Court, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1LQ. Your calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality assurance purposes.13

1002

4

Simply Employee HealthThe new policy from Simplyhealth for small to medium sized businesses which is:

• Flexible• Affordable• SustainableSimply Employee Health it’s as simple as that.

For more information call us on 0800 294 7303

email [email protected]

or visit us online at www.simplyhealth.co.uk/intermediaries

issue 23 - winter 2013 connect

Documents