Occumed of Memphis: Employee Health Benefits Means More than an Insurance Policy
Employee retention may not be as much of an issue right now as in times past; in fact, many companies wish they didn't have to slash their employee numbers.

MEMPHIS, TN, July 23, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Employee retention may not be as much of an issue right now as in times past; in fact, many companies wish they didn't have to slash their employee numbers. However, maintaining a good relationship with your employees is always important, and offering health related perks can make them feel more valued as a part of your team in a time when monetary perks may be out of the question.
"By showing you care about an individual's health makes them more valued as a person and they will likely be more willing to work hard for a company who gives that type of personalization rather than treating them like a number," said Lloyd Robinson, MD, of OccuMed/Robinson & Associates, a family practice and occupational health clinic. "It's a known fact that employees right now are asked to do more on the job with less staff or resources due to economic decline, and showing an interest in their health will not only benefit your company but the employee as well."
Dr. Robinson noted some of the following suggestions for companies to consider adding to their human resources plan.
• Hold an annual health fair as an opportunity to disseminate health-related information or perform basic screenings for free to the employees.
• Publish a health-related topic in the employee newsletter.
• Distribute health-related articles in employee mailboxes on a routine basis or leave them in general areas where they can be picked up by the staff.
• Perform pre-employment testing or annual screenings or physicals even if not required by law; the cost involved with this type of service can pay off in the long run and potentially avoid injuries or lost time due to escalated health issues.
• Encourage employees to use their insurance benefits if their policy covers routine annual physicals. Many policies do allow for this, and it is one more way to encourage your employees to be healthier; an annual physical can catch something in the early stages, which would mean less lost time and expenses for the employee and the company. Consider offering extra vacation hours specifically for preventative medical exams or offering a bonus for those who can show they have this performed annually.

• Follow up on the screenings/physicals by encouraging employees to see their primary care physician (PCP) for any health concerns out of normal ranges.
• Recognize that many people do not have a PCP and may be hesitant to call a clinic to make an appointment if they don't know anything about the clinic; make some recommendations by giving them a choice of 2-3 good clinics you may know about or have heard good things about. Keep in mind that OccuMed also sees private patients, so they may feel comfortable going on their own if they have already had dealings with the clinic on an occupational level.
Robinson's partner Marlah Mardis, MD pointed out that maintaining a healthy group of employees is important to the company's overall safety, and just because an employee has a health issue does not necessary make him or her a target for layoff.
"The point is to keep any health issues under control so they can function on the job as any otherwise healthy employees would," she said. "Retention of existing employees is always important since they already know the company's rules, regulations and safety policies. With employee turnover there is an initial reduction in productivity and quality, increased costs for training and recruitment, and newer employees are at higher risk for injuries on the job since they don't know the job as well or the dangers that go along with it."
Both physicians agree that the cost of keeping your existing employees healthy is generally cheaper than the cost of turnover within a company. The added bonus is that employees can see it as a company benefit, so it is a win-win situation.
OccuMed is proud to serve the occupational health needs for many local companies and is also available for the general health needs of those in the community. Call 901-345-6700 for an appointment or for more information about keeping employees healthy so they can remain on the job.

By Alison Eidson, Practice Manager
OCCUMED

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