subject: Greater Generosity Will Improve Business Performance [print this page] Greater Generosity Will Improve Business Performance
British businesses can improve performance by offering better protection to their sick staff.Research by Demos, a public policy research organisation and publisher, revealed that British employees who suffered ill health were amongst the worst protected in comparison to other OECD countries.British incapacity welfare is falling behind the provision offered by peer nations in North America and Europe and the UK finished eighth in a new Index of Financial Protection compiled by Demos.The Index looked at how much protection ill employees received from the state and private sector and found that Britain lagged well behind other affluent countries in both categories.Each country was given a score out of 100 with Britain scoring a total of 44, which came well behind America in both the protection offered through private and state welfare despite the UK having a national health service. Demos discovered that there was a link between the levels of state and private protection demonstrating that countries with a strong tradition of private insurance also offered solid state support to sick workers.The think tank called on employers to insure their workers against potential problems such as workplace accidents, ill health and disability as this will encourage people on long-term sick leave to return to work.Author of the report Max Wind-Cowie claimed that Britain's welfare system and sickness and disability support needs to be made sustainable as people are working and living longer than ever before.He said: "Personal income protection is mutually rewarding - it serves the interests of the individual and the state."Far from privatising the welfare system, this would allow people who can take more responsibility to do so, and allow the state to target more generous support at those who need it."British businesses may want to offer private healthcare as part of an employee benefit package as this will improve workplace morale which is also likely to increase productivity.Performance improvement consulting experts can help organisations implement strategic and tactical transformations which aim to increase staff morale and enhance customer service levels.Businesses who are suffering during the current economic climate will benefit the most from employing performance improvement consulting professionals as they can provide expert advice in an increasingly competitive environment.Management consultancy firms will have in-depth knowledge of a wide range of industries and will be able to apply business theory to analyse, redesign and optimise their organisational processes.
