Unum gives free access to wellbeing app for small firm customers

Unum is giving free access to its digital Help@hand health and wellbeing service during Coronavirus to firms with less than 100 employees.

Between 1^st May and 31^st July, 2020 small firms that have a Unum critical illness or dental policy, including customers who hold one of these policies through Benni, can get access to Help@hand.

Businesses with less than 100 employees that have a Unum group income protection policy can also extend Help@hand to their uninsured employees free of charge between 1^st May and 31^st July, 2020 under this arrangement.

Unum’s Help@hand health and wellbeing app integrates its employee assistance programme (EAP) provided by LifeWorks. The app is powered by Square Health and gives access to EAP tools and services – including a 24/7 confidential helpline, unlimited live video consultations with UK-based remote GPs 24/7 – including prescriptions and medications delivered directly to individuals, mental health support, personalised physiotherapy treatment and medical second opinions with a consultant.

An Opinium poll on the impacts of coronavirus on business has found 24 per cent of SMEs want advice about supporting their employee’s wellbeing, and 38 per cent of medium sized businesses want to know what their duties as employers are to their staff.

Unum says demand for Help@hand has risen sharply, with a more than 50 per cent increase in employers registering for the service since the World Health Organisation announced a pandemic on 12^th March.

Unum UK CEO Peter O’Donnell says: “Covid-19 is having a profound impact on British businesses. While the economic impacts are already being felt, we are only just beginning to appreciate the effect on employee wellbeing with repercussions on productivity likely to play out long after we’re back at work. Since launching Help@hand we have continually been looking for ways to improve the customer experience and support employers in consolidating their health and wellbeing offering in one place.

“That’s why we have taken the decision to expand our service to incorporate a range of legal and financial support services as well as lifestyle services so employees have access to a comprehensive support package wherever they are working. And as we appreciate that life is particularly tough for smaller businesses, we hope we can help alleviate some concerns around employee health and wellbeing by extending our offering with free access to Help@hand, available to many more Unum policy holders over the next three months of this difficult period.”