Taking the Chamber Initiative pays dividends

Absence costs business and industry an average £13 billion annually. The CIPD’s Absence Management Survey Report 2006 states that the average cost of sickness absence is £598 per employee per year. Back pain climbed ahead of musculoskeletal injury as the number one cause of long-term absence for manual workers. Stress remains the number one reason for long-term absence for non-manual workers, with acute medical conditions rated the second most significant cause. 46% of employers reported an increase in stress-related absence in 2005 but yet just under half of employers provide access to counselling services.

Alarmingly however many employees increasingly see paid sick leave as an entitlement. A worrying trend for employers. Investing in employee wellbeing makes sense!

Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce recognise that as a member you can take effective measures to reduce absenteeism and improve profits with the help of the Chamber Primary Health Plan. This exclusive plan which has 4 Levels with an entry level of just £1.10 per week per employee, is offered through Westfield Health, one of the UK's leading providers of healthcare plans. Experience shows that when minor medical problems are treated immediately and effectively, employees can return to work sooner. There is also a weekly voluntary partner premium if your employees would like their partner covered by this plan, starting at £1.54 for Level 1 rising to £8.89 for Level 4.

The Chamber Primary Health Plan provides employees with the means to cover the cost of:

Dental Treatment (100% reimbursement per benefit year)

Dental Trauma (100% reimbursement per benefit year)

Optical Treatment (100% reimbursement per benefit year)

Therapy Treatments* (100% reimbursement per benefit year on Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Homeopathy Consultation (100% reimbursement per benefit year)
Chiropody (100% reimbursement per benefit year)

MRI, CT and PET Scanning Facilities 24 Hour Counselling and Advice Line** (includes up to 6 sessions of face to face counselling *** and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)) ***

Personal Health Risk Assessment **

DoctorLine**

Personal Accident Cover – covers Permanent Disability and Accidental Death

* In the case of therapies, the amount represents a combined total for all the treatments. This amount can be used for any one, or combiantion of therapy treatments.
** Available to the policyholder and any immediate resident family.
*** Policyholder only. Accessed via the 24 hour Counselling & Advice Line and offered at the discretion of the telephone counsellor

Reducing the cost of absenteeism and providing added value benefits will have a positive effect on balance sheets by improving productivity, maintaining loyalty and increasing job satisfaction. Subsequently having a positive effect on profits. It will provide an effective absence management tool as well as being an excellent employee benefit, which will be received well by all employees.

Even More Cover For Your Staff
Additional modules are also available to purchase giving you and your staff even more cover options!
The Surgery Choices module provides employees with cover for up to 60 non-urgent surgical procedures and conditions, helping them to get well and back to work as quickly as possible.

For Kids provides routine health cover for your employees' children, helping to keep their little ones happy and healthy.

Please Note: Employers must select a minimum of 5 employees for Surgery Choices cover.

Simple to Introduce - Simple to Administer
You are covered immediately from the date of registration and the plan covers pre-existing medical conditions apart from Personal Accident cover (3 month qualifying period for partner cover and upgrades and pre-existing medical conditions are not covered for partners, except for optical and dental). To introduce the plan to your employees, simply choose the level of contribution, either £1.10, £2.20 or £4.25 or £6.35 per employee.
For further information please visit: www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber