UK Employers Anticipate Increased Cost from Public Health Reform

19 July 2011 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - Senior HR and finance people in the UK’s largest organisations expect public health reform to cost the corporate balance sheet dearly as increased health provision and promotion falls on them, new research sponsored by vielife and London South Bank University shows.

A report on SMEWEB said 47% of respondents predict an increase in per-employee health benefit costs resulting from government health plans compared to only 4% predicting a decrease. Confusion over employers’ expected responsibilities and too much focus on cutting public spending rather than improving public health were the respondents’ chief concerns about their involvement in health reform, expressed by 30%.

According to the news report, 58% of survey respondents believe UK employers are already bearing much of the economic burden of ill health costs, chronic disease and incapacity, and 49% think many of the UK workforce’s health problems are attributable to generally worsening public health.  

The emergence of a ‘workplace lottery’ of health provision is considered likely by 50% of respondents, if employee benefits become more central to public health. Fifty-three percent think that expecting society to take greater responsibility for public health ownership is likely to lead to confusion and greater division in access to benefits.

With workplace health viewed as a significant threat to the UK’s economic performance and competitiveness by 66% of respondents, only 10% want the government to play the lead role in improving public health; 76% believe the best result will be achieved under a collective effort between the government, the private sector and individuals themselves.  

Rebecca Moore
editors@plansponsoreurope.com