Accident & Health: Protecting modern employers and their people 24/7
Workplaces in Australia are changing. Employee health and wellbeing has become more important than ever as employers seek to better support and protect their most important assets in a changing and uncertain business landscape.
And while this shift has been accelerated and validated for many employers in recent months, we know employee wellness has been at the top of the corporate agenda for some time.
But how do employers lean into this shift to better protect their business and people? Jade Greenland, Head of Accident & Health - People Risk, Australia Pacific explains how Accident & Health insurance has proven to be a powerful part of the answer.
Protecting flexible, dynamic workforces around the clock
Accident and health insurance offers significant benefit to businesses because it protects people from sickness and accidents beyond the limits of physical workplaces, traditional working hours or statutory schemes like Workers Compensation.
According to a 2019 report from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency the proportion of Australian organisations in the private sector with flexible working strategies and policies was over 70%1. And it’s more than likely this percentage has only grown in recent months.
So as employees increasingly look for flexible working arrangements to fit around more balanced and dynamic lifestyles, and the line between work and home blurs, Accident & Health cover is becoming more valuable.
We work with thousands of employers that choose Accident & Health in conjunction with Workers Compensation cover because they want to cover all their bases.
Supporting holistic wellbeing and health
Recognition around the important role of health and wellbeing in fostering productive and engaged workforces is growing. Many employers are responding by embracing wellness solutions that go beyond the workplace and focusing on delivering an authentic culture of care.
One recent study revealed employees with thriving holistic wellbeing are more than twice as likely to say they adapt well to change, 41% less likely to miss work due to poor health and 81% less likely to seek out a new employer in the next year2.
Accident & Health can play a powerful role here. It not only supports holistic health and wellbeing of employees by providing the peace of mind 24/7 protection brings – it also sees them receive expert support and care when they experience injury or illness.
People are financially, emotionally and physically cared for and supported through the return to work process, so they can get back to their normal activities as quickly as possible. And at QBE, our inhouse claims experts are specialists in this process, handling approximately 15,000 Accident & Health claims per year. Importantly, this includes best practice management of mental health and other complex injuries.
By helping people to get their lives back on track quickly, workload and mental strain on teams and employers and related costs, are also reduced.
Redefining what it means to be an employer of choice
Many employers realise the value in helping their employees succeed inside and outside of work and Accident & Health provides a meaningful way to do this.
Accident & Health benefits can address lost earnings, rehabilitation and other support costs, as well as provide lump sums for death and serious injuries. And importantly, because QBE cover is tailorable, a range of benefits can be added to address specific employee or customer needs.
By offering Accident & Health as a benefit, these employers are sending a powerful message to their most valued asset, their employees, and building the trust and advocacy that helps today’s businesses thrive.
Find out more
Read more useful information about protecting employees in What to do if your employee is hurt at work.
Find out more about QBE’s Accident and Health offering.
1 Workplace Gender Equality Agency (2019). Flexible working is good for business
2 Gallup (2020). What Wellbeing Means in the Coronavirus Era
The advice in this article is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You must decide whether or not it is appropriate, in light of your own circumstances, to act on this advice.
