Upcoming statutory sick pay reforms are raising concerns that some employers may reduce investment in employee healthcare, a move that could have serious long-term implications for workforce health, absence, and productivity, highlighting the importance of robust health and protection strategies. Ian Talbot, CEO at Healix Health, comments on the potential impact of the SSP reforms on employer healthcare provision.
Ian Talbot, CEO at Healix Health:
“The move to day-one statutory sick pay should take some of the financial pressure off people who might otherwise struggle to take time off when they are ill. That is clearly a good thing. But it also puts more attention on the support employers actually have in place once someone is off sick.
With almost one in five companies expecting SSP to be a challenge to their business, and almost half of those saying they may reduce the generosity of other employee benefits, there is a real risk some respond in the wrong way.
Reducing investment in employee healthcare would be the wrong call. If employers start trimming health and well-being support to offset the cost of higher sick pay, they risk making things worse – more long-term absences, people leaving, and a hit to productivity. Now is the time to invest more carefully in workforce health, not pull back from it.
Day-one sick pay helps in the short term, but keeping people healthy and in work depends on what support is in place before issues escalate, and what is there to help them return well. It’s also important to fully embed your healthcare support. Employees need to be reminded of it and encouraged to use it as soon as they’re off – speeding diagnosis and getting them well and back to work quicker.”
