SMEs in Cumbria are being offered an 80% discount on workplace health assessments for employees with a local occupational health provider.
Choose Occupational Health, in Carlisle, is offering the discount as part of the workplace health assessment discount scheme being run by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Under the scheme, SMEs pay 20 per cent of the cost of the assessment with the DWP paying the remainder to the provider.
A workplace health assessment, also known as an occupational health assessment, includes services such as fitness for work or return to work assessments and management referrals to get advice on how to support an employee with health related issues.
Employers in Cumbria can choose from a range of providers, including Choose Occupational Health, in Hartington Place.
Carlisle nurse Sandra Holliday, founder of Choose Occupational Health, says the scheme was intended to help get people back to work, with research showing that one in five who are off sick for more than four weeks will not return.
“The scheme is being offered because SMEs are hit the hardest, picking up 76% of the 2023 long-term sick bill and are also less likely to use occupational health services than larger employers due to the concern about costs,” said Sandra.
“It is easy and quick for businesses to apply for a discount voucher online and then to book an appointment with us to begin accessing our services.
“Our focus is on helping employees remain productive, with all the benefits that brings to businesses through retaining their workforce and the valuable knowledge they have.
“It may be that we can help people continue working by taking on an altered role or reducing their working hours. It is all about understanding what someone can do and keeping them working in some form rather than losing them all together.”
The scheme is open to SMEs registered in Cumbria and Lancashire which have 250 employees or less.
SMEs with one to 49 employees can use the service if their yearly turnover is £10.2 million or less or their yearly balance sheet is £5.1 million or less.
Those with 50 to 250 employees can use the service if their yearly turnover is £36 million or less or their yearly balance sheet is £18 million or less.
To register, SMEs fill out an online form which will generate a discount code within a matter of minutes if they are eligible.
They can then contact Choose Occupational Health to arrange an appointment using the discount code.
Choose Occupational Health has more than 500 clients across Cumbria ranging from large employers with more than 1000 staff to small businesses with just a handful. Its clients include manufacturers, local authorities, primary and secondary schools, colleges, GP surgeries, dental practices, service providers and charities.
Sandra said: “We know from our work that many employers are facing real challenges when it comes to workplace absences right now. We’d urge any businesses who need help to register and get in touch as soon as possible.”
