• 100% of respondents failing to comply with regulations regarding eyecare funding
• Administration choices result in higher expenses claims
• Improved communication required

Specsavers Corporate Eyecare has undertaken research into the eyecare policies implemented by organisations across the public sector. The research represents policies and regulatory interpretations affecting up to 130,000 employees.

Non compliance
With display screen equipment (or visual display units) in widespread use across all industries, the 1992 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) regulations (amended in 2002) apply to virtually all staff. In fact, all respondents said that at least some their staff use VDUs in the course of their work and over three-quarters of respondents (76%) said VDUs are used by more than half of their staff.

Yet, not one of the organisations responding to the research stated that they wholly fund VDU eyecare for the relevant staff. This is a staggering failure to comply with the health and safety regulations which stipulate that any member of staff using a VDU is entitled to an eyetest and glasses, if required for VDU use, both wholly funded by the organisation.

Costly misunderstandings
More than a quarter (28%) of public sector organisations are not making use of vouchers to administer eyecare (compared to 43% in the private sector). Voucher schemes are arguably the most admin-friendly and cost-effective eyecare solution available. Some 62% of public sector organisations leave the choice of optometrist up to the individual member of staff and 72% either allow staff to claim back any eyecare on expenses or have no formal system in place at all (compared to 53% in the private sector). This could prove very expensive as costs for optometrists can vary hugely. This lack of defined policy can also lead to a loss of control over quality and consistency of service and care.

Nearly half of respondents (47%) would expect to pay more than £50 for an eye examination and glasses required for VDU use and 14% would expect to pay more than £100. This shows the vast overspend that could be made through lack of investigation into eyecare providers or through the organisation not specifying its own optometrist. Both the eyetest and glasses for VDU use can actually be provided for less than £20, as realised by just 24% of respondents.

The survey revealed that over two thirds (67%) of public sector employers only review their eyecare provider every five years or less. Organisations could well be missing out on cost-effective deals for employers or on technological advances: digital retinal cameras are now available at leading optometrists and can make eyecare benefits a much bigger part of overall healthcare by enabling the detection of life-threatening illnesses and medical conditions.

Value of eyecare as a benefit
The value placed upon eyecare benefits by staff is high: 10% of respondents believe their staff see eyecare as the most valued benefit or more valued than other benefits. Nearly half (48%) of employers believe their staff value eyecare equally, if not more than, other benefits. The results are especially impressive considering that this is also comparing eyecare with financial benefits.

Communication of benefits
The intranet has become a favourite tool for communicating benefits. More than three-quarters (76%) of organisations in the public sector now use their intranet as a method of conveying their eyecare policy (compared to just 47% in the public sector). Despite the well known importance of communication of benefits, 5% of organisations still have no formal method for communicating their eyecare policy to staff. The results are surprising given the sheer size of many public sector organisations. The survey shows that a third (33%) of public sector respondents have over 10,000 employees within their organisation. This compares to just 16% of private sector organisations with this level of staffing. Having an eyecare policy in place and a formal method of communication would therefore seem more important still within the public sector.

Laura Butler, corporate account manager at Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, says: ‘It is essential that organisations should not only have an eyecare policy in place but also that they ensure that staff are aware of their entitlement. This is actually a stipulation under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) regulations and is vital in ensuring the proper care of staff and the careful management of related budgets. We encourage all organisations to invest a little time into exploring the options for eyecare benefits. The rewards will be seen by employees and employers alike.’

The research
Research conducted by eMedia in early 2011 on behalf of Specsavers Corporate Eyecare.