Ministers are urging employers to do more to keep workers healthy and reduce the numbers of employees off work due to sickness
In July, Ministers published a string of proposals designed to increase the provision of occupational health services in the workplace. In a carrot and stick approach, they are considering both tax breaks and compulsion to persuade employers to do more to look after the long-term health of their staff. Under one proposal, this list would be expanded so employers could be given tax incentives for offering certain health services to staff, such as screening for health conditions, flu vaccinations and treatments designed to reduce workplace absence.
Lincoln Occupational Health, based in Buckinghamshire and Central London, is preparing for this by expanding on their 2023 flu vaccination programme.
Katie Eastwell, Managing Partner, explains that as well as providing huge benefits for both the employer and employee, providing an onsite flu vaccination programme is a fantastic way of introducing Occupational Health to the company. “Our Occupational Health nurse comes onsite and gets to see a large number of the workforce in a short time, and this allows her to have the opportunity to have a quick chat with everyone as we administer the vaccination. It’s amazing the rapport we can achieve in just a 5-minute appointment! This helps to introduce us (Occupational Health professionals) foremost as nurses. Nurses’ strength is that they focus on people, their functionality and workability and this is reflected in our nurse-led approach to wider Occupational Health services which include referrals for fitness to work and absence management.”
Katie continues to explain, “offering employees the opportunity to have a flu vaccination onsite really is a win-win situation for everyone.” The employer is showing itself to be putting health and wellbeing at the forefront, whilst promoting better health in the winter months for their employees, resulting in less sickness absence. As for the employee….they get a real health benefit from having a flu vaccination in work time, negating them needing to do (and pay for) this in their own time. Previous experience shows how much this is appreciated by employees and the take up increases year by year. The NHS also benefits with there being less demand on their GP flu clinics and less illness requiring GP, hospital or social care.
The flu vaccination is suitable to all adults aged between 18-65. For further information on our flu vaccination services and other OH services, please contact: lydia@lydia27abf6bf89-ywjxf.wpcomstaging.com