Global industrial packaging firm Greif’s introduction of an Equipsme private medical insurance (PMI) scheme for its UK workforce in May 2023 represented an important step in its desire to foster a culture of purpose and wellbeing, reduce presenteeism and absenteeism and enhance recruitment and retention.
Michelle Crown, HR manager, UK, at Greif, says “The cover, which costs the same price regardless of age and is also available to family members, demonstrates our dedication to a supportive and inclusive community, elevating the experience, satisfaction and sense of loyalty of every employee.
“It not only supports our employees but also alleviates the strain on the NHS, therefore demonstrating our role as a socially responsible company. Our urgency heightened as we observed the growing NHS waiting list and challenges in securing GP appointments.”
Backed by Axa Health, Equipsme’s provision of PMI cover excludes cancer treatment, but includes cancer diagnostics and also lower-level cover that includes useful diagnostic services but no hospital treatment.
Greif’s scheme offers both approaches to all 150 UK employees, who are based mainly on-site at factories in Ellesmere Port and Burton-on-Trent.
Employees receive £20 a month in a healthcare flexpot, and 68 employees have chosen to use this for the Equipsme cover.
The £20 equates exactly to the monthly cost of Equipsme’s level three diagnostic plan, which excludes private hospital treatment but has no excess and offers everything from private specialist consultations, tests, scans and diagnosis to physiotherapy, second medical opinions and private GP and nurse helplines.
Employees can also choose to upgrade to level two and level one cover, which offer private hospital treatment and cost a total of £33 a month and £48 a month respectively, although level two cover has an excess of £150.