Swiss Life asks why consultation dismisses income protection policies
Swiss Life is submitting an official response to the Association of British Insurers' (ABI) consultation paper on rehabilitation asking why the report fails to discuss income protection (IP) products.
The consultation paper, drawn up in conjunction with the TUC, calls for an overhaul of rehabilitation services in the UK to help curb the growing cost of staff absence. Although the paper suggests greater employer commitment through a mandatory rehabilitation policy and improved awareness of rehabilitation among employers and insurers, it omits discussion on the role of IP.
Nicola Smith, employee benefits communications manager at Swiss Life, said: 'The paper is aimed at helping people get back to work. Although it looks at workers' compensation, in our view it should go further. Income protection and the role it can play in rehabilitation is a very important issue.
'It seems the ABI and the TUC have failed to get the industry's views before issuing the report, so Swiss Life will issue a formal written response to the consultation, airing these views.'
The ABI said it looked forward to reading Swiss Life's views. Leonie Edwards, spokesperson for the ABI, said: 'We welcome any views the industry may have on the report. The paper did focus on work-based compensation and employers' liability. We agree income protection is an important issue to discuss in relation to rehabilitation and look forward to hearing from Swiss Life.'
Following research funded by the Department of Work and Pensions, the TUC has issued a seven-step plan to help employers prevent workplace injury and illness. It calls for employers to establish clear policies on rehabilitating their injured workers, separate sickness absence from disciplinary processes and work with unions and the workforce to develop new policies.
The TUC is encouraging employers to respond actively to sickness absence by staying touch with absent workers and adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to rehabilitation involving senior personnel and health professionals. The plan also encourages employers to presume sickness absence is work-related and provide staff with occupational health facilities.
TUC's general secretary John Monks said: 'Britain is one of the safest countries to work in. But when the worst happens, we need to get people back to health and back to work ' and Britain isn't good at that. Rehabilitation is good sense, it is good business and it is good for people.'
