The key to happiness could be achieved without any additional cost to British business and industry!

Rory Murphy, FirstAssist, highlights the advantages of Employee Assistance Programmes in response to David Cameronís speech at Google Zeitgeist Europe Conference

ìDavid Cameron is, today, arguing that the key to a successful UK economy is to make people happier as well as wealthier. But I imagine that many organisations will argue that this will come at a cost that they cannot afford. However, I firmly believe that the cost of providing employees with the tools to achieve a more positive work-life balance can actually pay for itself.

ìCurrently just 10% of UK employers use employee assistance programmes (EAP) to assist their staff on all matters of health and wellbeing. There is some way to go, therefore, in achieving Mr Cameronís ideal world of happiness. But if more organisations ñ of all sizes ñ realised that the cost of EAPs could be covered by reductions in Professional Indemnity Insurance, then I think we could see a much wider use of this ëkey to happiness in the workplaceí.

As an example, one particular local authority with which FirstAssist is working managed reduced their Professional Indemnity costs by 100,000 - the same value as the EAP we provide to their thousands of employees. In other words ñ it is a win win situation. The employees receive a much greater level of support and assistance for a wide variety of work and personal matters ñ and it doesnít cost the local authority anything to provide this.

ìCould this be the answer to Mr Cameronís vision of the British public sector becoming the world leader in progressive employment practice?î

Roryís wealth of knowledge in change management and human resources makes him a key commentator on health and wellbeing in the workplace.

He has over 25 years experience within the trade union movement. Prior to joining FirstAssist, he held a number of high profile positions at some of the largest unions across the country. In 2004, he joined AMICUS, the countryís largest private sector union, as Assistant General Secretary, having previously been joint general secretary of UNIFI, the UKís eleventh largest TUC Union and the largest specialist finance union in Europe. He has also been General Secretary for the NatWest Staff Association (NWSA) and Director of Industrial Relations for the Royal College of Midwives, providing him with an in-depth knowledge across a range of industries

For further commentary from Rory Murphy on health and wellbeing in the workplace please contact the FirstAssist Press Office:

Maddy Roles/Marie Woods/Justine Hoadley ñ 020 8977 9132