QBE targets billion euro absentee losses

QBE has launched a free rehabilitation service that is designed to support injured employees and their employers in the period immediately post-incident.

QBE Return aims to reduce losses incurred through absenteeism, which, according to QBE rehabilitation manager Rosie Hewitt, accounts for more than €17.7bn for UK businesses.

Hewitt said: “Improving return to work rates would significantly reduce this figure but companies can be bewildered by the myriad support services available and how they can best be configured.”

The service is available to all businesses currently covered by a QBE employers’ liability policy and can be activated by registering details via an online referral form.

Employees injured at work can receive an immediate assessment of the extent of their injury and advice on how to manage it from medically qualified case managers. The injured party is eligible to receive telephone support up to 30 days post incident.

The injury assessment and self-management advice provided in the first 30 days is completely free and does not appear on a client’s claims history.

Hewitt added: “Early intervention dramatically improves recuperation rates for injured parties and enables them to safely return to work earlier. We created QBE Return to make it easy for employers to capitalise on the benefits of early intervention for their employees and their business.”

The service is primarily designed to address minor injuries, notably those that can be effectively self-managed with the right advice. For injuries that require treatment or cause an absence of more than 30 days, QBE said its rehabilitation and claims service would support as appropriate.

To complement the early intervention facility, the insurer has launched QBE Return +,a consultancy service designed to evaluate a business’s existing employee health and wellbeing support, highlight service gaps and advise on how best they can be closed.

Hewitt said: “QBE Return + offers a bespoke service where our specialists partner with clients to ensure that they have the most effective combination of public and private sector support for their employees.”