Employers need to pay close attention to whether group health cover applies to staff members’ mental health problems, Simon Griffiths has said.
The principal for Mercer Employee Health and Benefits said he welcomed the announcement made in last week’s Autumn Statement on additional funding, but urged the financial services industry to do more to educate employers and employees about healthcare benefits.
He said: “The announcement by the chancellor of an extra £600m spending on mental health is good news for all.
“However, survey data from Britain’s Healthiest Company shows that 4.1 per cent of employees are at risk of serious mental distress, which would have considerable effect on productivity.
“Corporate Britain needs to engage and incentivise employees to invest in their own well-being, and then use all available resources to return individuals to better health – be that physical or mental – when the need arises.”
Adviser view
Tom Conner, director for East Sussex-based Drewberry, said: “More than 20m days were lost due to work-related ill health last year, and some 40 per cent of lost work days relate to mental health. This is a challenge for businesses, so it makes complete sense for this to be a key part of any group health policy.”
