Greta,
You are right about counselling services being exempt. My understanding is
that - after much wrangling and naval gazing - counselling services were
considered 'welfare services' and therefore exempt from tax. The heightened
sensitivities about confidentiality and counselling probably also had a part
to play. Physiotherapy is regarded as 'medical treatment' and therefore is
a taxable benefit unless the reason for the physiotherapy is specifically
related to work
Lindsey
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greta Thornbory" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 9:27 AM
Subject: Re: Physiotherapy Business Proposal
> I believe, if I am not mistaken that a similar situation occurred with the
> Inland Revenue regarding counselling! They tried to get employers to find
> out whether the counselling was due to 'work related' or 'personal'
problems
> so that they could apply appropriate tax on non work related problems.
> Perhaps the TUC, RCN or one of the unions could comment here as to what
> ultimately happened but I think it was a question that whether resulting
> from work or not it affected work/performance and therefore it was not
> taxable as this was not a benefit!
>
> Greta Thornbory
> Consultant, Occupational health and education
> www.gtentreprises-uk.com
> Phone: 01235 770156
> Mobile: 0777 815 027
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lindsey Hall <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2003 1:05 PM
> Subject: Re: Physiotherapy Business Proposal
>
>
> > We are in the process of doing this having just run a years trial in
part
> of
> > the organisation. You will need good data to start with particularly
> > relating to Musculo skeletal absence and the length of time people are
> off.
> > Then you will need the costs of providing the service from whoever you
> > choose to provide it. Then the cost of time of your workforce. If you
do
> > not do this you will need to base your business case on time saved, days
> > made available to the business etc. You will need to have a good
estimate
> > of the time saved by providing the physiotherapy, but remember to cost
in
> > the time of employees being away from work while they have treatment. A
> lot
> > of business cases leave this out.
> >
> > Finally you will need to consider the tax implications. Physiotherapy
for
> > non work related conditions is a taxable benefit, even though it is cost
> > effective to provide and bring people back to work sooner - or prevent
> > absence in the first place. If your organisation decides to pay the
tax,
> > then that in itself is a taxable benefit and subject to more tax. -
potty
> I
> > know, especially given the Governments drive on OH issues but you would
do
> > well to sort this out first. Some organisations seem to get away with
> this
> > if they have an understanding tax office. We have had problems.
Perhaps
> it
> > is being a Govt organisation that needs to be seen to be whiter than
> white!
> > If you differentiate between paying the tax for work related problems
and
> > asking employees with non work related problems to pay their own, then
the
> > inevitable happens and you will end up with many claiming their problem
is
> > work related when it was not which may give you all sorts of liabilities
> you
> > do not want!
> >
> > In the end we found that providing physio to everyone regardless of
cause
> of
> > injury was cost neutral. Good feelgood factor though. We are still
> sorting
> > out the details in relation to the tax and liability issues. The cost
> > benefits seem to come from being reactive i.e. providing physio to
> employees
> > already off and bringing them back to work sooner. Providing to all
means
> > that you provide to many employees with minor conditions and twinges
that
> > would have got better without any form of intervention. This is our
> > experience anyway. I can provide the full paper if you wish.
> >
> > Lindsey Hall
> > National OH Manager
> > Environment Agency
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Sue Mclaren" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 11:03 AM
> > Subject: Physiotherapy Business Proposal
> >
> >
> > > I am attempting to formulate a business proposal for the introduction
of
> a
> > > physiotherapy service into the OH services section of the company I
work
> > > for. If list members could guide me as to what I need to consider or
> point
> > > me in the right direction towards useful links, I would be extremly
> > > grateful. Kind regards, Sue Mclaren
>
>
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