To think employers can pay for chicken pox vaccines

[coffeeforone]

I have been asked to put forward ideas of possible additional staff benefits to my employer. One that I have thought of is for the employer to pay for chicken pox vaccines (including for their family).

The benefits to both the employees and company are obvious. Less time off for parents benefits both. Kids don't need to suffer chicken pox.

But I'm not sure how well this idea would go down. If your employer offered to pay for the CP vaccine (but it would be a taxable benefit), would you vaccinate your little ones?

Well, no in the basis that we've all had the disease.

It's a fairly niche additional benefit, isn't it? And take up might not be that good. Paying for flu jabs might be more useful.

Do they want to do something to improve the company for all workers, or is it specifically parents?

Buy back holiday/core hours and flexi/help with childcare/Friday afternoon monthly work from home or off/subsidised gym/free lunches

All on my list before 🐔

tbh I like that idea. I paid privately to get dc vacinated as I can't afford to be off work for a couple of weeks.

Personally I'd rather have free / subsidised gym membership. Lots of people would like to be healthier but can't afford gym membership. Healthier workforce = less sick days...

It wouldn’t be a benefit to me.

As pp said flexi, gym etc are much better.

One place I worked at once a month they had someone come in and give staff massages and weekly yoga/Pilates was offered on site

If the NHS thought it worthwhile to vaccinate, it would. There are plenty of other vaccines on the programme.

I do find it interesting how anti-vaxxers are mad for not believing health professionals, but parents know better than the NHS about whether a chicken pox vaccine is needed.

I don't think a flu vaccine is very useful either although in my experience a lot of employers do pay for that one. You're far more likely to have time off work with a bad cold than actual full blown flu.

And the answer is no, I wouldn't have vaccinated my son. But he had it at 16 months old anyway so not sure if he would have been old enough to have the vaccine before he caught the illness.

A sensible sick pay policy so people don’t feel under so much pressure never to be ill?

In terms of benefits access to a private GP could be a very useful benefit.

No thanks.
It's affordable to pay privately- and most adults have had it anyway.

Agree with PP's. I'd rather have subsidised gym, flexi working etc than a chicken pox vaccine. It seems to me chicken pox vaccine doesn't have potential to benefit everyone, only parents of young children who havent had vaccine.

Children who havent had chicken pox I mean in last sentence!

I think as pp have said benefits like reduced private healthcare, gym membership, buy/sell holiday, local discounts/savings, flexitime etc would probably be more popular.

At my work we also do things like subsidised art passes/national trust memberships so you get reduced costs - those are very popular

Yeah it's a bit niche, and also comes with its own complications e.g. can't be around people with weakened immune systems or pregnant women for 6 weeks most vaccine. Could make it difficult to deal with in the workplace. And it just wouldn't be useful to most people.

Yes it would be very niche. It wouldn't benefit me for example as I've already paid privately.

They do offer flu vaccines, health checks and private GP appointments already, so it was that benefit 'category' that made me think about it when looking down the list

Hmmm. I've had to have the vaccine as an adult... the doctor tested me and confirmed I'd never had it when I was pregnant and it would apparently have been quite a significant problem if I was exposed then. He strongly recommended I have it but it wasn't available via the NHS. I paid for it but I did think that theoretically if I couldn't afford the 200 odd pounds and got it on following preganacy it would have cost the NHS a heck of a lot more. If it had been a work benefit great! (And i will have to repeat vaccine in future i think) But that is a relatively unusual.case I think.

an oddly specific vaccine and benefit :/

Gym membership
Discounts on things
Fee parking
Free lunch/snacks or subsidised meals
Flexi time

Much better

I think it would only benefit those with kids. The majority of adults have had it.

Employee counselling ( we have a free, confidential service)

When I worked in an academy all staff were offered a health check.

It was only a 10 minute one, quick chat, weigh in, blood tests etc.

Useful though.

Perhaps you could add to your suggestion.

Check up, flu jabs, missed vaccinations etc.

If your employer offered to pay for the CP vaccine (but it would be a taxable benefit), would you vaccinate your little ones?

Was your specific question and I will say YABU. What about those employees who don't have children? I think benefits should be equal - you may not choose to take up, say, gym membership, but it's open to all and the same "value".

For parents: how about a corporate member ship of an emergency childcare provider, so parents only have to pay the actual costs of a temp nanny when needed, not the full standing subscription.

For all staff:

• a leave buy/sell/bank scheme (subject to all staff having to take a minimum annual level themselves in person),
• minicab account, so staff working into the evenings can have safe journey (depending on local geography and commute times, but even a ride to a station makes a considerable difference)
• not things like cheaper gym subscriptions, unless the y can afford/have space to have one on-site (otherwise it's just a scheme that only some could access, if they do not I've near a participating gym)
• but if it's about promoting health and wellbeing, then something like workplace Pilates classes (actually in offices and other workspaces) or lunchbreak indfulness classes

I think it is a good one. Only worry would be that people would be unfairly treated if they didn't get it for their children and then had to take time off. (I say this as someone who has paid for it privately for DD).

To PP saying the NHS hasn't deemed it necessary, no they haven't but there are reasons behind that. From my understanding a big reason is the worry that more vaccines will put parents off even more, along with concerns about shingles in adults. Potentially also the cost. In other areas I will pay for extras for my child if I can afford them e.g. if schools stop offering music/swimming lessons I will pay for them. I also reckon they will bring it in eventually (like many other countries).

No. Absolutely none of my 45 colleagues in our department would benefit from this.

@falcon5
Everyone who has the chicken pox vaccination needs repeated doses as it only lasts 10-15 years and leaves you at a huge risk of shingles which is really dangerous for adults

What if you don't want vaccinations though? I think it's a bizarre idea.

You'd be far better off funding separate Measles, mumps and rubella vaxes . I paid a fortune for my two to get those.