In the U.K., 150 million sick days are lost each year, with recent research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development saying that staff are absent from work for almost two working weeks a year on average. That’s a lot and a new health and wellbeing service called Looking After Me has just launched to try and reduce this figure, which works through a smartphone app.
The new proactive health app
Looking After Me
It’s the latest proof that technology is increasingly important for our health and wellbeing, as well as everything else.
Even considering the data from the Office for National Statistics, which says U.K. workers take 4.4 sick days each, that adds up to a cost of $136 billion (£100 billion).
Looking After Me uses a network of former National Health Service nurses who can offer employees a series of proactive services. Central to it all is a monthly health check-in, done on the smartphone, that is confidential. Unlike rival services, this aims to focus on preventative well-being rather than reactive treatment.
The app also provides an interactive wellbeing check.
By prioritizing early intervention and building relationships founded on trust, employees can then access GPs, further counselling and specialist support.
The company was founded by Ruth Tuthill, who has worked for 20 years in wellness and education, and experienced HR strategist Claire Cooper.
A virtual hug
Looking after Me
In the scheme, employees get 15 minutes of one-to-one counselling per month, with a regular health coach, though a secure app. The sessions are confidential, though employers receive data that’s been anonymized, but which indicates wellness trends. This can help employers take appropriate action.
The 15-minute session is at the heart of the service, though employers can choose extra options such as daily or weekly wellbeing checks through the app, executive coaching and more.
The app works for both Android and iPhone and every user gets their own personal and secure account. At login, the homepage welcomes them and highlights health and wellbeing in a celebratory way.
Users can also access a library of resources through the app, with mental health support, lifestyle tips and, just as importantly, a virtual hug.
