NHS Plus small business health adviceline taking off
A report by NHS Plus shows that increasing numbers of small business employers are turning to its free Health for Work Adviceline, introduced to help tackle the impact of sickness absence in the workplace. More than a thousand businesses have called the Adviceline and the numbers are increasing every month.
Overall, sickness absence costs the UK around £100 billion each year. For small businesses, the effect of just one employee being absent can be huge in terms of productivity, recruitment costs and staff morale, but they often lack the resources that larger organisations have at their disposal to tackle employee ill health.
The Adviceline 0800 0 77 88 44 puts small businesses in direct contact with occupational health professionals for advice on how to help an employee with a physical or mental health problem either stay at work or return to work sooner.
The NHS Plus report on the service has found that more than 97% of small business employers have found it useful.
Small businesses can also receive help with occupational health monitoring, screening and surveillance, as well as lifestyle and well-being issues, absence management and rehabilitation advice, and will be referred to further support if appropriate.
The Health for Work Adviceline can be contacted on 0800 0 77 88 44 or visit http://www.health4work.nhs.uk
The free adviceline provides support tailored to the needs of small business employers, helping them to retain an employee's services or assist them back to work sooner after a period of sickness absence.
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