What happens when an employee is off sick?
Please tell us as soon as the employee has been absent for four weeks. At this stage we’ll become actively involved in managing the recovery process.
What is rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is the process of helping an employee return to work safely at the earliest opportunity, reducing the cost of long-term illness to you while maximising the employee’s contribution to your organisation.
We use independent specialists to deliver the most appropriate care and support for the employee's condition. These could include:
- nurses
- physiotherapists
- cognitive behavioural therapists
- career restart agencies
What happens if an employee can return to work part-time or in a reduced capacity?
We might make payments to help bridge the gap between pre-incapacity earnings and the reduced earnings resulting from the new circumstances.
What if an illness recurs after a claim has been paid?
If the same or a related problem occurs within 52 weeks of a claim being paid, we’ll begin benefit payments again immediately.
What if you don’t accept the claim?
In circumstances where we don’t pay any benefit we’ll still do all we can to make sure there’s a positive outcome. For example, in cases where absence is because of psychological, social or personal problems rather than medical, we can still provide valuable help by giving you information on employment law and advising you about preventative measures you can take in the future.
In other cases we may have identified that the absence is work-related, but isn't eligible for a claim. In such instances we can help make the employee’s return to work easier by providing information on how to adapt the workplace where necessary. This also helps you meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
This Act has been designed so that you only have to make reasonable changes, but if you fail to do what's reasonable, a disabled person could take legal action against you for treating them unfairly. We’re here to help you with making any necessary changes.
How can I tailor the scheme?
- You choose the date when cover ends, which is normally (but doesn't have to be) the retirement date. You can also opt for a limited claims period where we only pay benefits for a maximum of two, three or five years.
- You can vary the proportion of income protection benefits that employees would receive.
- You can choose which definitions of incapacity apply to the scheme.
What additional benefits are available?
The cover can be extended to include pension contributions and National Insurance contributions. The benefits can also be linked to inflation.
Next steps
If you would like more information about group income protection, you should talk to your financial adviser.
Further information... Who should I talk to?
Speak to your financial adviser to find out more. If you don't have an adviser, the IFA Promotion Service or the Society of Financial Advisers can help you find one.
