Reduce sickness absence
Tackling higher than average sickness absence rates
The “hidden cost” of employee sickness reached an all-time high of £103bn in 2023 – an increase of £30bn since 2018, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The average rate of employee absence is now 7.8 days per employee per year, a considerable increase from 5.8 days per employee before the pandemic.
The CIPD recommends a preventative approach to workplace health to tackle the increasing rates of sickness in the UK. Early diagnosis and intervention are needed to prevent health issues from escalating.
Read on to learn more about how a major infrastructure employer reduced their higher-than-average rates of sickness absence with Qured.
The problem
A major UK infrastructure employer engaged Qured to provide preventative health screening to its employees. The company had higher-than-average rates of sickness absence, with the causes often unknown. As a safety-critical organisation, health is a top priority. Sudden health crises can be life-threatening for the individual and disastrous for the business, given the impact of stringent regulatory requirements on sickness absence, such as DVLA Group 2. Ill-health and fatigue are major causes of workplace accidents and injuries, reduced productivity and performance.
By improving the health of employees, the occupational health and wellbeing team wanted to reduce sickness absence, prevent early retirement as a result of long-term inability to work, and improve safety within the organisation.
When exploring the options available to them, the team wanted a data-led and risk-based solution to offer to staff who were not eligible for PMI. It needed to do the following:
- Reduce sudden staff incapacity and overall sickness absence
- Engage shift workers and reach a dispersed workforce, without requiring them to take a day off to travel to a clinic
- Provide regular data and reporting, to enable the company to track the success of the project and offer the right interventions to employees
The solution
Implement a data-driven, remote employee health screening programme with Qured
Qured was rolled out across a range of job bands, functions and regions. Employees received a general health screen via an at-home testing kit. Small samples of blood were taken using a pain-free device. The test included checks on kidney, liver and thyroid function as well as cholesterol levels. Prostate cancer screening was also included for males over 40, and menopause screening for eligible females over 40.
All employees were offered an appointment with a health advisor to guide them through taking their blood samples from home. Qured’s doctors provided advice and recommendations to all employees, and those with abnormalities, as well as those with symptoms indicating menopause, had a consultation to discuss their results in detail.
The impact so far
Almost half of the employees tested were at risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health conditions which drastically increases the risk of chronic disease. Employees are seven times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, five times more likely to experience a stroke and four times more at risk of heart disease. The good news is that with proactive screening and targeted interventions, metabolic syndrome can be reversed or prevented.
So far the company has seen:
- Very high levels of engagement across both frontline and non-frontline staff, with 100% of available spaces taken within the first few days of launch and additional screens added to meet demand
- 84% of employees tested made and maintained recommended lifestyle changes, including reducing alcohol intake, changing dietary patterns, and further monitoring their health.
- Of those who were re-tested 12 months later, 90% of employees made improvements in multiple health biomarkers and are now trending towards healthy ranges across multiple parameters
The company is on track to achieve a 20% reduction in sickness absence days, reversing a rising trend and significantly improving the health and wellbeing of employees.
Find out more about how Qured can help with metabolic testing for your workforce.
When the email about signing up for Qured came through from my employer, I thought, ‘This is a free opportunity to have a quick health check’. The last time I had a health MOT was around 6 years ago. I felt fit and healthy, but as you get older, you’re aware of the need to keep an eye on things.
It was really easy and convenient to sign up for the screen. The testing kit was delivered to my home, and my results were delivered on time. I love stats, so it was great to see a visual display of my results in the app. Since the test, I’ve made some lifestyle changes such as drinking less, eating cheese less often, changing from full fat to semi-skimmed milk and switching to a low cholesterol spread. The changes were easy to make and, combined with some prescribed medication, have made a huge difference to my health already.
