New age discrimination legislation could prompt increased healthcare support

68% of companies expect to invest more in healthcare to support an ageing workforce, according to latest research by health benefits provider HSA. The research, which was carried out amongst 697 HR professionals during July, aimed to explore what the key threats were to the future health of the UK workforce and found that 54% would have to invest more in stress prevention and 54% in physiotherapy as a result of an ageing workforce.

ìThe new regulations around age discrimination, which come into force on 1 October 2006, are designed to help ensure that people of all ages are given the same opportunities. It also means that individuals can choose to work beyond the current age of retirement, meaning that a larger number of older people could be in the workforce,î comments Suzanne Clarkson, Head of Corporate Marketing at HSA. ìIt is clear from our research that this could lead to a need to provide additional and lifestyle related health benefits to ensure that this age group remains healthy and at work.

ìOn top of this, companies may actually need to introduce health benefits should they wish to retain people once they reach the current retirement age. Our survey amongst the working population found that only 15% of people definitely would choose to work later in life. However, this figure rose to 50% if people were offered healthcare benefits, further indicating the crucial role that health will play with regards to the future of the workforce,î concludes Suzanne.

The survey also found the following results:

70% of those surveyed in the private sector thought that they would have to invest more in healthcare to support an older workforce

72% of companies with over 500 employees surveyed thought that they would have to invest more in healthcare due to an ageing workforce

39% would expect to invest more in increased provision to care for acute conditions such as cancer and heart disease

38% thought they would need to increase their healthcare benefits to support and ageing workforce
To download a free summary of the report findings, go to www.hsa.co.uk/corporate or email pr@hsa.co.uk. For further information on the range of corporate healthcare plans available from HSA, contact 0800 072 5850.