Free support package for health and social care SMEs to help protect staff as furlough scheme closes
A UK health business is offering a free support package to SMEs in the health and social care sectors to help them protect their teams as they return to work from furlough and get Britain’s economy back on track.
The package from Medigold Health includes access to doctors and nurses both remotely and via its specialist clinics for employees with health issues, including those arising from COVID-19, and those who are self-isolating or shielding.
This SME support package comes as the furlough scheme comes to a close at the end of October.
Although the furlough scheme is drawing to a close, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new wage subsidiary scheme to protect jobs – the ‘Jobs Support Scheme’. This new scheme aims to reduce further unemployment this winter, following mounting pressure from various trade bodies to extend or replace the furlough scheme, which has proved a lifeline for many businesses and helped prevent a flood of unemployment.
According to Medigold Health, despite the rise in awareness of, and commitment to, employee health and wellbeing, eight out of ten SMEs currently do not have a support strategy in place and only three per cent of people working in SMEs have access to comprehensive occupational health advice.
Medigold Health is offering 100 free subscriptions to its specialist occupational health package, Medigold Health Protect, which has been designed to support SMEs with managing the return to work process, including any Covid-related issues and other sickness absence.
The package also provides health screening for new starters, including access to clinical support where any issues are identified. Medigold Health says businesses will also benefit from a wide range of wellbeing materials developed by qualified psychologists and access to a dedicated mental health and wellbeing app.
Any UK business with between three and 100 employees is eligible to apply for a free one-year subscription via the Medigold Health Protect website. Applications must be received by Friday 20 November 2020.
Alex Goldsmith, CEO of Medigold Health, said: “As we face renewed challenges from the devastating coronavirus pandemic, it has never been more important to focus on the health and wellbeing of our employees.
“The UK’s economy is underpinned by the success of small businesses and that is why we are pleased to offer our support with a free one-year subscription to a health and wellbeing service designed specially to meet their needs. We have spent the last 12 months researching, developing, and testing our revolutionary occupational health subscription service for SMEs which was unveiled for the first time this summer.
“At this critical time in the UK’s recovery, we are delighted to be able to offer this service free of charge to help some small businesses to ‘Build Back Better’.”
Established in 1998, Medigold Health offers occupational health and employee wellness services. From a team of just five, Medigold Health has grown into a £33M business employing 530 staff across 70 locations.
Medigold Health Protect has been shortlisted in the innovation category of the 2020 Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards.
Alex concluded: “Workplace health challenges have changed dramatically over the course of 2020, and we understand the pressure that small businesses are encountering as they adapt to a new way of working. We know that looking after our employees well forges loyalty and commitment and helps them to do their best work. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense.”
The Medigold Health Protect package enables businesses to:
- Refer employees for clinical support in cases of sickness absence
- Screen new employees for health issues as they start work
- Support employees returning to work after recovering from COVID-19
- Advise staff who have been self-isolating or shielding
- Help to affect a smooth transition for those returning to work from furlough.
