Features archive

A collection of articles featured over the last few months:

Keeping your heart healthy

Regular exericse has a host of benefits, including keeping your heart healthy and strong. If you're keen to exercise more, personal trainer Lucy Wyndham-Read has developed a set of heart-friendly exercise plans suitable for different age groups.
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Wellbeing programmes can help limit losses through absence

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has said there is “a strong business case” for developing a comprehensive wellbeing strategy that builds employee engagement, wellbeing and productivity.
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Our stance on NICE

Due to recent Government announcements regarding NICE, we are clarifying our stance.
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Overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

For some, clinical levels of depression may become evident, a condition described in diagnostic manuals as a ‘recurrent depressive disorder with seasonal pattern’ or more commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.
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Effective absence management can reduce working time lost

Changing the way organisations manage absence can reduce working time lost by up to 80% suggests new research by XpertHR.
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Stress Management

Stress Management has never been more relevant than it is today. According to recent research by AXA, stress levels have doubled in four years.
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Impact of government changes to VAT and IPT

The following changes were announced on 22 June 2010 with effect from 4 January 2011.
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AXA ICAS sponsors the Occupational Health Awards

AXA ICAS is delighted to sponsor the Occupational Health Awards.
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Study highlights benefits of health promotions

A recent study run by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has shown that workplace health promotions can lead to reduced absenteeism.
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Email stress wipes out holiday benefits

A survey has found that many employees feel overwhelmed after returning to work to deal with thousands of emails.
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Do you have a positive work/life balance?

A significant source of stress for working men and women concerns the conflict between balancing career and family roles.
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Effective benefit consultancy in Occupational Health provision

Although occupational medicine can trace its history back to the middle ages, the last 10 years have seen a revolution in its role within the workplace.
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Money sickness syndrome engulfs workforce

A new report published by AXA shows that money worries are sweeping across the nation’s workforce at an alarming rate.
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Summer holidays stress workers out more than being in the office

A study by the Institute of Leadership and Management has revealed that 40 percent of workers do not come back to the office feeling more relaxed after annual leave.
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Are you losing sleep over job worries?

According to a Travelodge survey of more than 6000 people, three-quarters are getting less than the recommended eight hours sleep a night.
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New research shows employers are becoming proactive in managing employee wellbeing

Employee Benefits Magazine suggests many employers see the investment they make in looking after staff as being good for the long-term success of their organisation.
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Marketplace Developments

Dr Mark Simpson, AXA ICAS Medical Director, discusses early feedback on the ‘Fit Note’.
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Employee Assistance European Forum

AXA PPP healthcare business manager Eugene Farrell has been elected secretary of the Employee Assistance European Forum (EAEF).Mind.
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Pressure at work cause a rise in mental health problems

AXA UK supports new campaign. Pressures at work during the recession have caused a rise in mental health problems, suggests a new survey from the mental health charity, Mind.
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The Sunday Times Best Green Companies

AXA PPP healthcare has been awarded 35th place in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies 2010 list (up from 43rd place in 2009).
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'Presenteeism' threat to business

A new report by The Work Foundation shows sickness absence must not be tackled without addressing sickness presence.
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Dental attendance rates at eight year low

The proportion of people who say they attend every six months dropped from three in five to barely two in five people in just one year (59% to 43%).
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Changes to the sickness certification process

In response to the Governments “Health, Work and Wellbeing: Caring of our Future” workplace health strategy, changes are being made to the sickness certification process.
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AXA takes part in World Water Day and Earth Hour

As part of our Environmental Commitment AXA took part in World Water Day and Earth Hour on 22 and 27 March respectively.
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AXA stresses healthcare as biggest challenge for next government

Nicolas Moreau, AXA UK CEO, speaks at the Conservative Manifesto Conference. Highlighting healthcare as one of the biggest challenges facing the next government.
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Our Environmental Targets for 2010

AXA PPP healthcare is committed to protecting the environment and safeguarding the future through the effective management of our environmental risks.
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Exercise improves memory for older women

Researchers asked one group of older adults (average age 70) with slight memory problems to complete a six-month, high-intensity aerobic exercise programme and a second group to undertake a relaxed set of stretching exercises.
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Our annual chosen charity

Every year AXA PPP select a local charity, from employee suggestions, to be the company's annual chosen charity.
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Financial worries are affecting employees' performance at work

A study by AXA PPP healthcare reveals 24.6 million employees feel some degree of anxiety over their financial position.
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Our Green kitemark

AXA PPP healthcare recycles 100 per cent of all paper used by employees and nearly 60 per cent of membership material is currently printed on recycled paper.
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Our Sunday Times kudos for going green

AXA PPP healthcare was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of Britain's 60 Best Green Companies.
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AXA UK is one of the best big places to work

AXA was ranked 15 in The Sunday Times Best Big Companies to Work For Listing.
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Launch of extranet system

Extranets allow members to access documentation and is our first step in reducing the amount of printed material.
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AXA launches My Budget Day

This new website helps people understand their finances and take an active role in making the right financial decisions.
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AXA PPP healthcare launches Your Dedicated Nurse

AXA PPP healthcare's dedicated nurse service can offer support and advice to people diagnosed with cancer.
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Our Corporate Health Plan's new six week option

AXA PPP healthcare's new six week option for Corporate Health Plan makes providing PMI to employees more affordable.
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Health and wellbeing rises up business agenda

Research by the Institute for Employment Studies on employers’ current thinking on wellbeing has found that investment in health and wellbeing had actually become more important during the recession, not less, for more than half of the 50 employers polled.
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Increase in employers offering dental cover

In the last few years there has been a huge increase in the number of companies offering dental cover as part of their corporate wellbeing benefit schemes.
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Employers forced to rethink absence management policies

The new Welfare Reform Bill wants employers to re-examine their absence management and rehabilitation care policies thoroughly, with an emphasis on much earlier intervention and prevention strategies.
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Directors duties

Calls have been renewed to put directors duties on a statutory footing, after an HSE-commissioned study indicated that the voluntary code, published in October 2007, had failed to make an impact among company directors.
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‘No progress’ on RSI at work

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is calling on the government to encourage employers to do more to prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI). The physios’ union says latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show there has been little progress in tackling RSI in the last six years.
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Changes to first aid training

Revised guidance for first aid training organisations, incorporating the changes to first aid training, is now available.
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Swine flu information

AXA PPP healthcare is closely monitoring the outbreak of Swine Flu and the possible risk of a pandemic.
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Myths about working mothers

Negative perceptions that flexible working damages the career prospects of women returning to work after maternity leave are alive and well according to the latest benchmarking research.
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What is medical inflation?

As the availability of new technology increases, particularly in the area of pathology (or investigation and diagnosis), so does the frequency of doctors using the tools at their disposal.
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BMA Survey: doctors concerned about patient safety issues

Hospital doctors are frequently frustrated in attempts to raise concerns about standards of care and push forward ideas, a BMA survey indicated. The report, Speaking up for Patients, is to be published at the BMA's annual Consultants Conference in London.
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Managing the psychological impact of swine flu

The UK is now reported to have the third highest number of swine flu cases in the world, and the media has focussed on preventing the spread of the disease, however, according to AXA ICAS, it's time to look beyond this to identify the steps companies should take to mitigate the psychological impact on work and business performance.
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Business Continuity Planning for swine flu

According to government research over a third of UK businesses have no response plans in place to help them continue to operate in the event of a pandemic.
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Treating Customers Fairly and management information

TCF within a firm should be expressed in the context of the desired customer experience and it must be 'a way of life' and 'business as usual'. In order to meet FSA requirements, it is critical that any TCF procedures are fit for purpose and, even though a firm may have implemented Management Information, it is still worthwhile validating it.
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Flexibility improves commitment

It is becoming more and more important for people in today's world to achieve a proper work-life balance. Employees are increasingly taking on a greater number of responsibilities and demands both inside and outside of the workplace, while employers need to keep a skilled and productive workforce.
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Bullying and harassment

Bullying and harassment has long been an issue in the workplace, nationally and internationally. From a number of surveys it appears to be on the increase, although the reasons behind the statistics are open to debate.
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Health at Hand

When Health at Hand was first launched as part of our proposition in 1996, we recognised that our members needed to access expert information whenever they needed it - whatever the time of day.
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Cancer cover – offering our members choice

Over recent years the way cancer is treated has changed significantly. With the introduction of many new drugs and with others waiting to be licensed, AXA PPP healthcare has taken a proactive approach to the cover we offer.
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