Joy Reymond, Head of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Unum

The benefits of early intervention

27th April 2016

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Unum UK

45 years in the UK

40% of UK Market

Many products: GIP, CI, SPI, Dental ……

1.6 Million people

Expert return-to-work services

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What are the impacts of sickness absence?

• Long-term illness (those off work for 6 months or more) costing UK private sector £4.17 billion a year

• ~ £770,000 a year for a typical employer with 500+ staff

• Growing problem as the working population ages• Impact on company productivity, focus, culture

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Early Intervention in Context

Prevention Early Intervention Protection

Preventing physical and mental health issues upfront

Managing emerging problems

before they become serious and long term

Paying the claim;Helping staff

recover & return to work faster

RESILIENCE & WELLBEING

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The impact of early intervention

17%

Average reduction in length of

absence through early intervention

18%Reduction in length

of absences relating to mental

health

Absence of 7 months reduced to 6 months

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Examples of Early Intervention Services

Employee Assistance Programme

Early intervention helpline

Vocational rehabilitation services

Mental Health First Aid

Positive ageing guide

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

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What is early intervention?

• PERMISSION / RECOGNITION: Stepping in at the first sign of physical or mental ill health

• PURPOSE: Providing support proactively to try and prevent the condition deteriorating

• APPROACH: Stepped Response• Simple & low key at first, progressively stepping up as required

• SKILLS: Ensuring managers are aware & know where to turn to for help, advice, assessment, direction.

• ATTRIBUTES: Clear, consistent, credible, impartial, empathic - both in planning & implementation

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What are the Key Imperatives for HR &How does Early Intervention Impact this?

Key Corporate and HR Imperatives•Aligning HR strategy with corporate business objectives•Culture•Competitive Advantage•Talent Management•Cost Management•Innovation•Flexibility•Productivity•ROI, Earnings

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People Make the Company

• Company Culture• How you manage people when they are not well• what culture do you want for your company• what message do you want your people to hear

– We value you– We will make an environment (physical and otherwise) that engages you and

maximises your passion & creativity for the work, your motivation and productivity

– We want you to be well and at work– We expect that if you can work, you will – We will support you if you can’t– We are paying attention– We are connecting / communicating with our team members

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Competitive Advantage

• Attract and retain talent• EI contributes to a Positive environment which retains high

contributors and enables them to maximise their contribution• Managing stress• Performance management

• Removing barriers to contribution• Engage and motivate • Positive Management• Health and wellbeing• accommodating

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Driving Profitability

• Operational Expenses

• Productivity

• Efficiency

• ROI

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Summary: the Strategic importance of Early Intervention

• An effective wellbeing strategy needs to encompass prevention, early intervention and protection

• Proactively stepping in at the first sign of an issue can make a big difference

• Significant savings to be made for the employer• Better outcome for the employee, returning to work quicker• Vital that line managers are aware of the services

available and where to turn to for help

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How can this work in practice?

Employee•Diagnosed with Parkinson's, no absence, but increasing symptoms – & struggling to continue•Been at the company for over 20 years

Employer•Less than 40 employees, want to do the right thing•This employee key to the business

Action•Ergonomic assessment recommendations & new equipment•Change work hours•Provided taxis to allow easier access to work

Early

Intervention

Result•Employee remained at work and felt valued•Employer kept a valuable member of staff at work

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Example – Stress

Employee•Skilled Worker; Performance declining; employee anxious; occasional time off; team no longer functioning smoothly

Employer•Considering a performance improvement plan •is it illness driving poor performance or the other way around?

Action

Early

Intervention

Impact