Zurich Corporate Risk has launched of a new digital tool, designed to help employees understand and reduce their risk of developing cancer.
This assessment tool will be available to all group risk customers and is provided in partnership with Further.
Zurich says this launch will help employers build more resilient and healthier workforces. It points out that the number of working‑age people affected by cancer continues to grow, and it is now a major influence on the labour market.
Around 890,000 people of working age in the UK are living with cancer, and this figure is expected to rise to 1.15m by 2030. In addition, more than one million working people act as cancer carers, placing further strain on employee wellbeing and productivity.
It adds that cancer is consistently one of the top causes of claims on Zurich’s group risk policies, with the impact of diagnosis extending far beyond treatment. Employees typically require around 15 weeks away from work, and this increases by approximately 50 per cent when cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage.
With research showing that up to 40 per cent of cancers are preventable through healthier lifestyle choices, access to proactive, preventative information has become critical for employers striving to support their people.
The new cancer risk assessment tool provides employees with a personalised view of their risk factors, along with practical, evidence‑based guidance to help them make meaningful lifestyle changes. It also offers clear, accessible recommendations on screening and early detection, which are key to identifying cancer when it is most treatable.
Zurich Corporate Risk head of market management Nick Homer says: “Cancer has a profound and lasting impact on employees, their families and the businesses they work for.
“By giving people a personalised understanding of their cancer risk – and the steps they can take to help reduce it – we’re empowering workforces to take proactive control of their wellbeing. This new tool enhances our commitment to supporting customers not just at claim stage, but throughout their employees’ health journeys.”
Further CEO Frank Ahedo adds: “Cancer is now one of the leading causes of workforce disruption in the UK, yet up to 40 cer cent of cases are preventable. Employers who adopt structured, science‑led risk assessment and prevention programmes not only protect their people and reduce avoidable absence costs, but also demonstrate decisive, long‑term leadership in safeguarding the health and resilience of their workforce.”
