CASE STUDY 1

Costly Ill-health Retirement avoided after Occupational Health Intervention

Background

	Senior insurance manager aged 52. Thirty years service. Salary - £60,000 pa.
	Quality worker, innovative, excellent reports.
	Company does not have an in-house occupational health service.

Presenting Symptoms at Work

	Sudden inability to write reports (first work related symptom noted in January 1998).
	Resulted in sickness absence due to depression.
	Referred to an occupational physician [OP].

Occupational Health Physician noted the following

	Constant travel away from home during the week.
	Divorcing wife – but living in the same house at weekends.
	Annual senior management medicals revealed a three-year history of alcohol misuse.
	4-month absence from work with depression in previous year.
	Company offered him EAP Help Line.
	Employee referred to clinical psychologist following senior management medical.

Employer's Viewpoint

	Employee being considered for ill-health retirement.
	Costs of ill-health retirement:
	6 months on full pay	£30,000
	6 months on half pay	£15,000
	Enhanced immediate pension	£40,000 pa (+ increases)
	Costs of paying enhanced immediate pension	£400,000
	Replacement and disruption costs	£10,000

Occupational Health Intervention

	Referral by occupational physician to psychiatrist and clinical psychologist to treat depression and provide better coping strategies for employee. Private Medical Insurance covered the referrals.
	Rehabilitated back to work within 6 months.

Outcome

	Self-confidence and self-esteem restored.
	Employee returned to full productivity with the help of an assistant.
	Fully functional in job within two months of return to work.