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CCH® HR MANAGEMENT — 11/01/07

Organizations are offering employees on-site health services

Thirty-eight percent of employers say that presenteeism, the act of employees coming to work even though they are ill, is a problem at their organization, according to the 2007 CCH Unscheduled Absence Survey. And, 87 percent of participants report that sick employees who show up to work are suffering from short-term illnesses such as cold and flu, which can be easily spread. Of the companies that think presenteeism is a problem, over half (54 percent) combat the issue by sending sick employees home. And, 45 percent post helpful hints on how to avoid spreading germs and then hope that employees will follow them.

In addition, organizations are beginning to take a preventative approach to presenteeism by promoting employee health and wellness. Employers are beginning to offer their employees onsite health services. These services encourage employee health and therefore reduce the number of employees who come to work even though they are ill.

"Having on site medical helps reduce Workers Compensation costs, decreases non productive time to both employer and employee, promotes a healthier work environment and sends a positive message to the employees that the company values them," said Rachelle Rolshoven, market manager for Yoh Health Care.

Organizations offer more than just flu-shots. Sixty-six percent of organizations participating in the CCH Survey offer their employees on-site flushot services to counter presenteeism and effectively promote employee health. However, the on-site health services Rolshoven is referring to offer more comprehensive care in addition to the flu-shots. "Services provided can include first aid, emergency response, health and wellness activities, mandatory compliance testing, Workers Compensation case management, disease management and immunization clinics," said Rolshoven. "These services are provided by professional, licensed personnel and should be offered in a designated area, with a separate treatment room and medical office," said Rolshoven. There also needs to be appropriate equipment provided to maximize the services—including audiometers, pulmonary function equipment, glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes, over the counter medications, AED's, etc."

Multiple regulations to comply with. When offering on-site health services, organizations must be prepared to comply with many legal regulations. "Organizations will need to comply with all applicable OSHA regulations, as well as state and federal laws," said Rolshoven. "In addition, State Workers Compensation regulations must be followed as well as confidentiality laws."

"Regulatory compliance for on-site healthcare is mandated federally through OSHA and other regulations, but in many states, like California, the state regulations are more restrictive," said Rolshoven. "Employers in California are therefore much more concerned about the state’s regulatory environment."

Rolshoven also said that on-site health providers must think about confidentiality the same way a major hospital does. "Federal regulations like HIPAA do not make exceptions for employers. Even if your on-site facility has a limited staff, the information in employees' records has to be protected and only available to authorized individuals," she said. In general, Rolshoven said that depending on the types of on-site services that companies are considering instituting, different regulations apply. "For example, if employers would like to bring their drug screening process to the office, special considerations must be made including bathrooms for this specific use," she said. "Anytime health services are being administered, even at work, there are certain amenities needed and legally required these range from sinks to eyewash stations to private rooms …. the list goes on. At the end of the day, companies can bring a new level of convenience to employees by bringing health services to work, but integrating the guidance of legal and health experts into this implementation is key."

Consult with legal counsel. To ensure that the requirements of each law and regulation have been complied with, organizations who plan to offer on-site health services should consult with corporate counsel to develop sufficient policies and practices. "In addition to corresponding with legal counsel, organizations should involve a medical director and an occupational health nurse in the development of on-site health service policies," suggested Rolshoven.

For additional information on this and other HR topics, consult CCH Human Resources Management or Personnel Practices/Communications.

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