Monthly Archives: April 2020

Healthcare News, Home Working, News

Physiotherapist shares advice for work-from-home safety

More of us than ever before are working from home during the current lockdown situation. As it was announced and implemented with very little warning, many of us don’t have the correct equipment and setting for home working. Tapping away on a laptop at the kitchen table may sound ideal but it can soon lead to injuries, aches and repetitive strains.

Katie Knapton, CEO at PhysioFastOnline.co.uk that provides online, interactive physiotherapy sessions, has a few tips to helps us get through these tough times without further stress and worry.

• Set your phone to remind you to stand up and move around. Working from home means you aren’t walking to meetings or to lunch. Before you know it you have been in the same position for 2-3 hours so set your phone to remind you to stand up and move around every 25 minutes for a 5 minutes break. The other important thing is to get into a good work routine despite working from home it is important that you have some downtime and are not working on your computer all hours.

• Moving around will help ease those tight muscles and the relaxation will help ensure any tension is released. Stress can massively affect pain levels which can increase muscle tension, affect movement and result in other symptoms. So do your best to relax a little and often.

• Do some cardiovascular exercise which needs to be so that you get a little out of breath. This also can help you relax and switch off. Maybe look into learning meditation as this can significantly help deal with stress. When working at home you can make the most of the privacy by getting going on a regular stretching and moving campaign.

• Don’t slouch. This is easier said than done as we all slowly slump and slouch when we sit in front of our keyboards or on the phone. Try to regularly check your posture, pull your self up and straighten your back. It might not feel as comfortable, but you will avoid that painful back, neck and shoulder ache later that evening. You need to keep shifting positions- your next posture is your best posture!

• Repetitive strain injuries are caused by repeated movements that put tendons under duress. Typing on a laptop keyboard with little or no give in the keys combined with your arms resting on the kitchen table will eventually cause an injury. It may feel like an ache initially but as the days go by this will get worse and your ability to work from home will diminish. If you don’t have a proper keyboard, desk and chair and your employer is unable to supply one remember my first point as it’s even more important; set your phone to remind you to stand up and move around for 5 minutes every 25 minutes. Plus do some of the work standing up. Altering work positions can reduce pressure building up and reduce discomfort and help avoid long term problems.

• For injuries or more serious niggles it is important that specific advice is sought from a qualified professional. Most injuries can be treated with an online video consultation such as those offered by Physiofastonline.co.uk –

Remember, staying fit and well will ensure you can remain productive so don’t feel guilty about managing your health and wellbeing. Often going off for a walk or doing some more intensive exercise away from your work can lead to a EUREKA moment and even if that doesn’t happen your body will certainly be grateful for it.

Creative News, Marketing, PR and SEO, News

Dispenser Management digital signage that monitors hand sanitiser usage

In response to the global COVID-19 crisis, NowSignage has developed a unique dispenser management solution to ensure that Hand Sanitiser Dispensers located in hospitals and public spaces are never empty.

Protecting your staff and customers is the responsibility of every employer. By installing the advanced LCD Hand Sanitiser Station, employers can play their important part in stopping the spread of infection and improving hygiene.

As part of this solution you can also utilise the NowSignage digital signage CMS, to remotely update the in-built 22” display with important public health messaging or advertising content.

Simply activate the ‘Dispenser Management’ app within your NowSignage account and if you’re using a compatible Hand Sanitiser Dispenser that is running NowSignage digital signage, then we will send automatic notifications to your account to notify you when your dispenser is running low or requires a refill of sanitiser solution. You can then extract this data by downloading usage reports to better inform future decision making and provide insight into the effective positioning across your venue.

Richard Hutchinson, Sales Director at NowSignage explains:

“The world around us is having to adapt and change rapidly due to the COVID-19 crisis, and in many areas of life technology will change what is accepted as normal both temporarily, and in many cases permanently. Due to the pressure on business owners to adopt adequate social distancing, hygiene and audience regulation measures in their premises, the opportunity to combine traditional CMS-driven audience digital signage with hygiene enhancement machines such as Digital Hand Sanitisers presents an incremental growth opportunity for the channel.”

“This particular specialist market is expanding rapidly, and with governments globally beginning to mandate hygiene technology measures in many shops, offices, transportation hubs and other public spaces. The real test for the channel will be in delivering innovative, customer-centric technology solutions whilst ensuring adequate hygiene and cleansing measures are met”.

For more information please contact us on sales@nowsignage.com.

Coronavirus, Healthcare News, News, PPE

200 Degrees Coffee donates materials for the protection of QMC workers

200 Degrees Coffee and members of the public have donated acetate to the Queens Medical Centre hospital (QMC) in Nottingham, to help alleviate the shortage of protective visors for NHS staff working on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the NHS under huge pressure and limited resources of personal protective equipment (PPE), specialist medical designers in the Orthotics department at QMC turned their attentions from insole production for foot conditions, to the production of vital protective equipment. Acetate forms a large part of the visors which are worn by NHS staff as part of their PPE.

200 Degrees Coffee initially bought 1,000 acetate sheets and put out a plea to the public for further donations. The people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire stepped-up; bringing the total to approximately 10,000 acetate sheets which were collated at 200 Degrees’ roast house on Meadow Lane, before delivery to the QMC.

Co-founder of 200 Degrees Coffee, Rob Darby, said: “In the current COVID-19 crisis the NHS are working at the coalface and all efforts are being made to limit the spread, and to help support our NHS and the capacity at its hospitals.

“The NHS is doing an incredible job of looking after us all during this pandemic and when we heard that they had limited resources on PPE, we wanted to help. The team at our local hospital, QMC, are doing an amazing job to create these visors in-house and we hope our donation can make a real difference in the effort to save lives.

“A big thank you to all those who supported us and donated acetate sheets, it was brilliant to see such a huge response from other people who just want to help anyway they can.”

The specialist coffee roasters and self-proclaimed coffee geeks also delivered 50 cafetieres – each with a kilo of freshly ground coffee – to the Nottingham Hospitals Charity, which are now being distributed between NHS staff rooms at QMC and City Hospital in Nottingham.

Nigel Gregory, director of development at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “Boosting the morale of our front-line staff is a hugely important job for us at the charity, so we are absolutely delighted to be able to provide teams across the hospital with these donations of 200 Degrees coffee and cafetieres. We love the fact that local companies are helping their local hospitals. The ability to quickly and easily make some great coffee will do wonders for our hardworking staff. Thanks to all involved.”

It’s a team-wide approach at 200 Degrees with finance director, Stephen Fern, working with his team mates at football club Bingham FC and the local community to raise £6,000. The significant sum was raised over the course of just four days and it has been used to purchase 4,200 protective visors for the QMC and other healthcare providers across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

Coronavirus, Law, News

Conexus Law offers latest guidance for companies concerned about contract obligations

“Life and business has got a lot more difficult and complicated since the classification of COVID-19 as a pandemic. As a result, all businesses are or will be looking at their financial and logistical obligations to third parties.”

This is according to Ian Timlin from Conexus Law, the specialist advisory firm that provides legal and commercial advice to clients who work in sectors where the built environment, technology, engineering and people converge.

In the latest free guidance sheet that can be found on the company’s website, he is advising companies that as a first step they should check their written contracts to see if they contain any terms can help clarify things. These may include force majeure, material adverse change clauses and general break clauses.

“Companies may also want to look to see if the counterparty to the contract is going to find it difficult or impossible to perform its own obligations now or in the future (particularly in the short term). That may give them scope to negotiate sensible variations all round,” suggests Ian.

To access Conexus Law’s range of guidance sheets free of charge please click here:

https://www.conexuslaw.com/post/fact-sheet-struggling-to-meet-your-contractual-obligations-what-are-the-issues-and-options

Contract Wins, News

Surrey County Council awards Contract to Keysource

Keysource, the global data centre specialist, has been chosen to provide critical facilities management for Surrey County Council (SCC) and its partners, following a competitive tender. Under the terms of the two-year deal Keysource will be responsible for two dedicated, purpose built, state of the art data centres operated by the council which provide secure hosting space, applications and infrastructure services to over 8000 users.

These data centres are critical to the day to day business of the Council with the technology touching almost every aspect of the organisation. In addition, SCC also hosts for a number of other public sector and private sector clients including Orbis, a shared services partnership between Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, and Surrey County Council.

Keysource will provide coordinated Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), critical help desk and out of hours support, statutory critical maintenance and a vital 24/7/365 emergency response service that includes an on-site within four hours guarantee. The new two-year contract includes support for the infrastructure that forms a part of the PPM strategy including generators, UPS, switchgear, Cooling, ventilation, fire detection and suppression, security gates and access control, CCTV and AV. The agreement includes the transfer of some Council staff to Keysource under TUPE.

Paul Clarke, Data Centre Manager at the Orbis Partnership, said: “We were keen to find a partner that understood our requirements and the unique and critical nature of the data centre infrastructure. Keysource was able to demonstrate this with their unrivalled experience in the sector, inhouse quality, business continuity and compliance and a commitment to supporting our core values.”

Richard Clifford, Senior Consultant and Head of Innovation at Keysource, said: “We have over 40 years of experience in designing, building and supporting critical environments and our operating model has evolved to a unique, streamlined delivery service supporting all aspects of facilities management. Driven by our inhouse specialist team we’re helping our clients focus on maximising availability, lifecycle of plant, energy efficiency and sustainability of their environments.”

Logistics, News, Transport

Hermes supports ‘flourishing’ SME clients

SMEs across a range of sectors are flourishing as consumers look to online alternatives during the lockdown, according to Hermes UK, the consumer delivery specialist. The company is currently delivering around 700,000 parcels a week on behalf of its Business Account customers (SMEs) – an uplift of 100% on this time last year.

In order to support these clients, Hermes has adapted a number of its services in line with government guidelines. This includes providing increased contact-free collections and doubling the number of lockers available for its customers to use.

Jon Oldroyd, Head of Business Accounts at Hermes UK, said: “Many of our SME clients have been able to respond quickly to the changing needs of consumers who are looking for alternative sources of products as a result of shop closures and travel restrictions. Our account managers have worked closely with them to understand how we can best support them during these challenging times whilst ensure that the safety of our people and our customers remains a top priority.”

Janis Liepa, of Wigan-based Assured Products, said: “We are proud to play our part in helping to manufacture and sell essential items to our customers in these challenging times, including hand sanitiser and wipes. We have seen our online orders rocket from 300 a week to more than 500 a day, the majority of which are sent through Hermes. Our staff have been amazing in coping with the extra demand and adhering to guidelines.

“These past few weeks have been difficult but also a game-changer for online businesses like ours. It has meant we’ve been able to get items safely to customers who are self-isolating. We’re grateful we have been able to cope with this increase in demand with Hermes’ support.”

Creative News, Marketing, PR and SEO, News

The Impact of Animation on Businesses

Will Dawson, Creative Director at Raw Pictures, discusses how animation can be used to benefit business

Whether it be through tv advertising, infographics, logos, design or video content, visual content plays an integral role in brand marketing. Humans are visual learners and in keeping with the advances of technology today the growth of video content in recent years has been meteoric. Youtube, Instagram Stories, TikTok, Facebook Live and Live Streaming are currently the go-to forms of video content which have grown in popularity considerably, leading businesses of all industries to reconsider their marketing strategy to encapsulate video.

Images and copy alone while effective are still static and shouldn’t always be the only medium you explore to tap into your audience. Consumers are almost overwhelmed by choice when it comes to visual content and so businesses need to approach their video marketing strategy with consideration and care. When executed correctly, a video marketing campaign can transform a brand’s visibility ten fold. One form of video that is growing in popularity and showing no signs of slowing down is animation.

Smart Insights recently reported that 92% of marketers see video as an important part of their marketing strategy.
Animation is an incredibly powerful form of marketing. With the ability to tap into a wider audience due to the universally visual nature, animation can not only be used within a marketing campaign, but to enthuse employees, connect with clients or simply improve brand reputation.

This article will highlight various types of animation and offer some insight into the powerful impact animated video can create.

What type of animation is right for my business?

Before any business begins an animation video campaign, businesses need to consider the type of animation they will use. The various types of animation mean businesses aren’t restricted to follow one particular format. Businesses have more flexibility with animation, and can choose a style that is in keeping with their branding, ethos and message that they want to portray with their animated video.

What Are Different Types of Animation?

2D Animation

This style simply considers the height and width of the animated subject. All characters, animated text or animated objects are two dimensional and are usually drawn by hand or on a computer.

3D Animation

3D Animation involves the use of Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) in order to create a 3-dimensional image i.e an image with height, weight and depth. 3D animation brings a product or process to life using computer software. This style can create highly realistic images and is popular with promotional posts.

Hand-drawn Animation

This traditional form of animation is where it all began. Traditional hand-drawn sketches or frames were drawn to encapsulate every movement, layered over one another. This style evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth and is still practiced with fond connotations today.

Digital 2D Animation

This involves creating visual 2D characters or animated features on a computer. This allows the subject to be adapted into gifs or short-form content. What’s more it is quicker to produce than 3D characters, making it a popular cost-effective solution without the depth, impact or story becoming lost / or affected.

Infographics

Infographics as a form of content are extremely popular for businesses. Easily digestible and downloadable, even the trickiest of concepts can be simplified into an infographic. They can be as creative and informative as you would like, presenting the reader with concise, relevant and informative statements or visuals. Plus, they are more simple and cost-effective to produce.

Kinetic Typography

This style of animation involves the technique of motion to portray an emotion or idea – for example, a group of words are brought to life to emphasise a point. This may involve making the text bigger, smaller, or blend. It’s a simple type of animation that can be highly effective in conveying a point.

Motion Graphics

Motion graphics merge animated graphic design with effective copy – similar to 2D animation from a visual standpoint, this style of animation may involve more shapes and objects. This may be utilised by businesses looking to bring their logo to life, for example.

Screen Capture Animation

Screen capture animation is a type of animation where you can essentially make a screen recording that bit more exciting. The fundamentals of screen recording are the same, however, it is presented through an animation. This gives more freedom for businesses to get creative with music, colour schemes, on-screen movements or a voice over, for example. This style of animation is useful for explainer videos that would benefit from a little more edge to bring them to life.

What makes a great animation?

There is no set formula for success when it comes to great animation, but business should always aim to create an animation that:

  • Informs and entertains
  • Forms a connection with the viewer
  • Is of a suitable length
  • Accurately portrays a business & its values
  • Delivers a clear and impactful message
  • Is memorable and original

Businesses need to remember that regardless of budget, style, or length the final animation must encapsulate the business as a brand and convey a message that stays with the consumer. The more memorable, humorous, poignant, relatable, the better, as a stronger emotional connection is formed between the video and the target audience.

Leading on from forming a connection, businesses must work to build trust with the consumer. Humanising a brand can help forge this trust and animated video can see brands form a connection with the consumer through a short, sharp, emotive piece of content. Animation is less commercial than some other visual mediums, allowing businesses to build a sense of connection with their audience through the story they tell.

Animations can make any topic, product or service more relatable, and can be used to explain, inform, or simply share a story in a more entertaining way than images or text alone. Likes and shares will initially draw your immediate audience in but the aim is to make your video shareable so that it is wider received across a variety of industries.

Audiences appreciate it when a brand makes a process as easy as possible. Explainer videos are a really good example of this. Businesses can use the opportunity to show off what they can do in an informative and engaging way this resonates with their network, clients and employees. This leads on to another benefit of animated video – it shows audiences that a brand really cares. Animation is attractive, pleasing to look at, and engaging in its very nature. It can play on emotions and influence choice if done well and leave an audience satisfied, having gained insight into what they’re looking for as well as gaining insight into your brand.

Do I have the budget for an animated video?

Some styles of animation are more expensive to create than others due to the software and time spent. When compared to other video formats, animation can be a highly cost-effective solution when compared to real-time footage. If a business were to create a promotional video without animation the following would need to be considered:

  • A film crew
  • Various equipment
  • Post-production costs
  • A suitable location or set
  • A shooting schedule
  • Actors

The above would be a much higher cost than that of animated video. The best way to approach this, and for businesses to understand what’s possible with the budget they have, would be to get in touch with a video production company who offers animation video services. Video production companies will be able to discuss various options as well as offer a complete service including post-production.

How can animation support the promotion of your business?

No two businesses are the same, so the way you approach animation and how you want to implement it will differ on a case by case basis; but, another benefit of animation is that you can explore a unique storytelling experience, designed for a specific viewer.

Consumers reward originality and authenticity so what better way to connect with consumers than with a highly engaging, visually sharp video. Animated video allows a business to condense all the information they wish to share in a completely original format. Allowing for complete creative freedom, it can encapsulate a brand’s story and uniqueness by incorporating brand schemes, colours and ethos. Animated video as a sharable format can be used for:

  • Sharing brand stories
  • Showing a demo of a product
  • Sharing company/ customer insights
  • Demonstrating a new product
  • Introducing a webinar series
  • Advertising a new event

Animations that are sharp, snappy and succinct are instantly more shareable, so brands need to be sure they consider this in the production process. For example, a Linkedin post can be made that much more engaging and memorable with the addition of an animation, adding weight to the post and giving it more traction to be liked and shared. There are many ways to promote your video and ensure its success which will determine whether the strategy is worthwhile pursuing for your business. This needs to be included in the process to make the time and effort spent creating the animation successful.

The benefits of using animations in meetings

Animation can be of great benefit to businesses looking to impress clients or enthuse existing clients and consumers with a new product or service. In a meeting, animated video will have far greater impact compared to verbal discussion or written content. As was discussed earlier, a clean and considered animation also shows consumers or clients that as a brand you believe in the new product or service, so much so that you have gone to the lengths of creating an animation to introduce it.

The benefits of using animation for employee engagement

Animation can not only be used in the capacity of consumer outreach but internally by businesses too. It is important to ensure employees remain enthused and onboard regarding any updates or change in direction concerning the business. Animation videos are a powerful tool that can be used to share an idea or initiative with employees to maintain morale and productivity. Forbes recently reported that highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability.

Animation encapsulates highly interactive visuals and audio with less restrictions than other formats. This means the audience doesn’t need to work hard to understand the content they’re watching. In real business practice i.e. employee engagement, complex topics can be easily simplified with an animated video, which could prove very useful when trying to explain a new strategy to a room full of people. Viewers retain 95% of a message they learn through video (Source: Wordstream), meaning a company will find their message resonates far more than through words alone.
As well as assisting in message retention, animation also gives businesses the opportunity to take a more personalised approach to team training and in-house practices. When time and care is put into employee engagement, employees are more likely to stay with a company because they feel valued.

The pitfalls of animation and business

One potential pitfall of using animated video in the business capacity is that it can be a time consuming endeavour. There are lots of steps involved in animation and decisions or changes must be made in the design and planning. Forethought is necessary, with little room for change later on, which can be problematic for a business that pivots frequently.
However, it can also be said that animation can be a worthy investment. This is because animation remains fresh looking for longer with updates needed far less regularly than a traditional promotional video.
Conclusion

Animated video can greatly impact a business’ marketing strategy, delivering key messages and increasing brand awareness in a format that is engaging, original and fun. When approached with the right story and impactful message, animation has the power to connect a business to their target audience and employees on a deeper, more personal level – all that’s needed is a great idea to bring it to life.

E-Commerce, News

VenueNext launches OrderNext into European market with limited-time offer

VenueNext, a leader in mobile commerce technology, is successfully launching into the European market on 16th April 2020 by announcing its first product offering, OrderNext. VenueNext is a platform operator that partners with businesses to create a unique application that services its customer base.

VenueNext offer multi-faceted platforms, with its offering and is being implemented across a wide range of industries, from sport stadiums to corporate campuses including Levi’s Stadium, Yankee Stadium and the Orlando Magic, to name a few. VenueNext is introducing digital ordering through OrderNext, a web ordering tool that can develop or supplement an e-commerce business by allowing digital payment and pick up facilities via a unique QR code. OrderNext is leveraging its technology to assist business owners within the food service and holiday park sectors to provide their customers with continued service.

In this time of uncertainty, OrderNext is offering restaurants and hospitals the opportunity to set up their own mobile ordering pickup service free of charge, for four-months. All onboarded clients will be provided a unique QR code that will navigate customers to a website for their purchases. Orders will then be collected from a designated location that is chosen by the service provider, eliminating human interaction in order to abide by social distancing measures. This process ensures that all health and safety regulations are met whilst offering an alternate method of operation for business owners.

Avery Felks, MD of VenueNext Europe commented: “The hospitality industry is undergoing unprecedented changes due to COVID-19. In this time of crisis, we are proud to be helping local businesses by giving them the opportunity to continue providing for their communities. Our user-friendly product makes the set up process a seamless experience, with the ‘Grab and Go’ element giving businesses the opportunity to adhere to government social distancing guidelines, whilst still offering customers their much-loved meals. There are many people who rely heavily on their local food service providers, which is why it was pertinent to us to offer this service free of charge at this time.

“Whilst this may be an uncertain time, we envision an appetite for VenueNext and OrderNext in the European market. We have promising partnerships in the pipeline and want to introduce the product in this time period, ensuring that the food service industry still has the ability to operate.”

To find out more information, please visit OrderNext Europe at http://www.ordernexteurope.com/here-to-help and VenueNext Europe https://venuenexteurope.com/here-to-help.

News

New research shows sizeable surge in interest in virtual events, video conferencing and remote working due to COVID-19

New research from global communications agency ClearStory International has analysed the rapid surge in interest in the most popular tech trends across media since coronavirus first emerged.

The COVID-19 Tech Trend Report was compiled to help businesses, industry stakeholders, journalists and others gain insight into the historic speed and scale of interest that catapulted previously obscured tech trends into public prominence.

The report identified 77,451 articles across UK media that featured mentions of tech trends which emerged under the spotlight as COVID-19 took hold. It assesses the surge in interest in the weeks coming up to the height of the pandemic. Globally, on average, there was a 17,500% increase in interest in video calling while there was an upsurge in interest in remote working by 14,000%.

From their low point in December 2019 to their highest point in the last week of March 2020, the report identifies 7 key tech trends and tracks the percentage increase in interest over that period on a topic by topic basis. In the UK, the highest surges of interest were recorded as:

1. Virtual Events/Conferencing (increased by 100,000% from low point)

2. Video Conferencing (increased by 42,625% from low point)

3. Remote Working (increased by 19,307% from low point)

4. E-learning/Edtech (increased by 3,766% from low point)

5. Gig economy (increased by 3,305% from low point)

6. Health/med/biotech (increased by 758% from low point)

7. E-commerce (increased by 224% from low point)

(For full analysis please see the COVID Tech Trend Report)

Recent research from Statista has revealed the British events sector is worth £1.2 billion , hence the increase in media interest within the virtual events/conferencing sector. In addition to this, interest in e-commerce has more than doubled. According to Internet Retailing, UK, e-commerce accounts for 19% of total retail, a figure that this report indicates is set to increase.

Speaking about the COVID-19 Tech Trend Report, CEO and Founder of ClearStory International, James McCann said:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted entire industries and created a significantly different dynamic for those in business and media globally. As governments, companies and societies scramble to adjust to a new reality, this report provides insight into a shift in most talked about sectors since coronavirus took hold. We hope this analysis will help businesses, stakeholders and journalists among others identify which areas are most of interest and likely to grow in these challenging times.”

The study was carried out from the 2nd December to the 5th of April 2020. ClearStory International is a global PR agency that works with emerging tech companies across the world.

Benefits, News

Don’t overlook benefits for home workers: access to specialist support ramped up for Covid-19

Celebrities and businesses alike have taken to social media platforms, offering free or discounted access to valuable content to support others self-isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic; whether it’s weekday PE with Joe Wicks, music tuition with Myleene Klass or audiobooks read by David Walliams. Health and wellbeing providers are equally transforming their products in reaction to the current situation. From increased access to online GP and Specialist consultations, to cancer treatment in the home; health and wellbeing benefits are being adapted for employees working from home, and it’s important that employers know what’s available and how to make them accessible to staff.

Brett Hill, distribution director at Towergate Health & Protection says: “As traditional routes to accessing healthcare are currently unavailable, many new creative solutions are being developed. Many benefits have been expanded or made available for free, and businesses need to ensure they’re aware of them and how their staff can utilise them.”

During a time of heightened anxiety around health and wellbeing, the ability to access help and treatment can make a significant difference between employees feeling supported or vulnerable. Whether existing conditions need continued support, or new health issues arise, new healthcare solutions are being made available. For example:

  • Access to specialists: When face-to-face appointments may be reserved for emergencies only, employees can feel exposed if they’re unable to readily access a GP or a Specialist. A number of providers already offered virtual GP services that are available 24/7 and access to these has been increased in recent weeks. Others now also offer digital or phone access to medical specialists such as oncologists, cardiologists, gynaecologists, orthopaedic practitioners, paediatricians, and ear, nose and throat specialists – a great support to employees and their families.
  • Treatment: Extra support has been made available from a range of healthcare specialists to arrange treatment where needed. Some providers will arrange cancer treatment at home where appropriate. Providers can advise on how to access treatment for employees that need urgent care, navigating facilities that are available for specific needs
  • Mental health: Apps are available that can support employees’ mental health – this can be particularly valuable during an unprecedented time of lockdown. The apps can monitor mood, and guide employees through coping mechanisms to help manage stress. Specialist mental health nurses can provide human intervention where more support is needed. Counselling and specialist support, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can be accessed online or by telephone. Support can also be provided for children’s mental health, which can be a great help for employees’ dependants.
  • Keeping fit: Apps can also be used to track physical health, reminding employees to exercise – important when working from home can mean a more sedentary lifestyle. Fitness trackers can monitor progress, and reward efforts, such as free movie subscriptions or discounts on weekly food shopping. Some healthcare providers have also enlisted help from celebrities to attract more employees into keeping fit, arranging specialist classes from yoga to nutrition.
  • Financial guidance: Financial guidance can be provided, via employee assistance programmes for example, pointing staff in the right direction to manage money more effectively during a time when income may be restricted.
  • Musculoskeletal health: Physical health can be compromised with home offices hastily put together. Digital consultations, such as physiotherapy, can be provided – helping employees to work through existing or new musculoskeletal health conditions without the need for referrals. Expert advice can be given on how to improve home working conditions and exercises can be monitored – ensuring that rehabilitation is on the right track. And virtual health assessments can be carried out to help employees monitor their wider health.
  • Support for addictions: Increased stress can exacerbate addictions. Support for gambling, substance and alcohol abuse, or smoking cessation can all be provided remotely, such specialist support can be a lifeline for many right now.
  • Online portals: Hosting benefits online can be a useful tool for home-working employees, providing a central location to review the health and wellbeing solutions available to them. Tailoring online communications and articles hosted on the portal can also signpost employees to making the most of benefits to maintain their health whilst working remotely.

Hill concludes: “Now is the time to take advantage of innovative offerings that have been adapted to meet today’s challenges. Health is at the forefront of many employees’ minds and it’s important that businesses let employees know the feeling is mutual.

“During this unprecedented time, it’s crucial that employees know that their health and wellbeing is prioritised by their employer, and that just because they may be working from home, out of sight isn’t out of mind. If employers are wondering how best to support the health and wellbeing of their staff whilst they’re working remotely, it’s a good starting point is to check in with their benefits’ advisers to see what’s new.”