Workplace sickness

The Court of Appeal has ruled that employers cannot ‘simply rubber stamp' an opinion provided by occupational health advisers regarding an employee's disability.

Poor health and a lack of motivation is damaging productivity and retarding potential growth, according to Bupa.

The government has extended the £500 tax relief for employer funded return to work treatments to include all those arranged by employer occupational health services.

Expats who have moved abroad to work feel they would have benefitted from a greater level of support from their employers, research finds.

Young people with chronic health conditions are more vulnerable to job loss, a new report by Fit for Work UK has cautioned.

Less than half (43%) of employers have a long-term plan in place for getting the most out of their employee value proposition (EVP), research has found.

Bupa has launched Healthy Minds,for corporate customers, which will identify early signs of mental illness, increase early intervention and help employees get back to health faster.

People on sickness benefits will be required to have regular meetings with healthcare professionals or face losing benefits - in a two-year pilot scheme in central England, beginning in November.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that it expects the independent assessment service to be phased in gradually across the country from October 2014, with the service being available nationally by April 2015.

Aviva's in-house rehabilitation team has broadened its offering of a mental health claims service to customers with Group Income Protection.