Unum has launched an early intervention helpline to help employers and employees tackle health issues at an early stage and reduce sickness absence.
The helpline is available to all Unum Group Income Protection and Sick Pay Insurance customers.
It will give employers and employees access to Unum's team of vocational rehabilitation consultants who will provide support such as telephonic assessments, advice or referrals to Unum's rehabilitation services.
The service has been trialled through selected brokers since July and will now be rolled out more widely following positive results.
During the trial, 26% of cases that came through the helpline were recommended full case management services and of these 86% have reached or are on track to reach a positive return to work.
The helpline proved particularly popular with line managers who may not have the confidence or expertise to handle health issues alone, Unum found.
Data from the trial showed the top concerns for line managers were how to support staff with mental health issues such as depression or stress, and developing an effective return to work plan or supporting staff struggling to remain in work.
Andrew Potterton, head of proposition development at Unum, said: "Protection products will help employers to support staff once they fall ill, but it is also important to tackle health problems early to make sure staff feel supported and, where possible, to prevent issues from developing into something more serious."
