Since the very beginning, when we were designing Orange Genie Companion, our benefits platform for contractors, we’ve known that it was going to be a positive force in the lives of our staff and umbrella employees. We’ve been excited about it from the outset, because it really is something new and different that hasn’t been seen in the contracting industry before, and it fits perfectly with our vision of who we want to be, and where we want to fit into our peoples’ lives.
We always knew it would be powerful, but it wasn’t until after the launch, when we saw real people interacting with our carefully chosen services, that we understood exactly how powerful it was. The real value of Orange Genie Companion isn’t in a list of stuff we give you, or even in the cost we pay for that stuff; it’s in how our contractors use it to make a difference in their lives. In this article we’re going to take a closer look at some of the Orange Genie Companion services and we’ll share some of the stories from our staff and umbrella employees.
Fitness and Wellbeing
Our fitness and wellbeing service offers practical help to take control of your fitness, diet, finances and mental health. This includes discounted membership at thousands of gyms throughout the UK, exercise videos organised by difficulty and goal, and a vast selection of healthy recipes. Fitness and Wellbeing was the most popular service in April 2019, with 1226 visitors.
“After suffering from a major injury, I lost my confidence at the gym. The Orange Genie Companion fitness and nutrition hub has helped me get that confidence back. Also, I’m not much of a cook, but I’ve started out on the healthy recipes too. So far I can’t complain!” – Orange Genie Umbrella Employee
Discount Outlet
Our discount outlet saves you money; on almost everything. It really is huge, and once you’ve got used to searching it before making a purchase, planning a trip or going out for a meal, you could find that you rarely need to pay full price for anything.
Again, it isn’t just about the pounds you save or the numbers in your cashback account; in the real world those savings translate into the freedom to get more out of life, do more fun things, and make more awesome memories with the people you love. Discount Outlet has always been popular, and April was no exception, with 1,139 visitors.
“I took my son to Legoland to celebrate his birthday. The family saved £100 on the ticket price!” – Orange Genie Staff Member
Personal Doctor
Personal Doctor allows 24/7 access to a GP by phone, with a web-cam service available during office hours. It’s accessible from anywhere in the world, and there’s no limit to how often you can use it. The doctor can even arrange for prescription medication to be delivered anywhere in the UK.
For those in robust health, Personal Doctor is one of those services that’s easy to underestimate, but it comes into its own when things don’t go according to plan. If you or a loved one falls ill while you’re abroad, your GP can’t see you right away or you don’t want to take time off work to attend an appointment, Personal Doctor offers a fast, convenient and effective solution. It offered that solution to 650 visitors in April.
“I needed to see a doctor but my own surgery had a 2 week wait. One call later I spoke to a GP and a prescription was organised” - Orange Genie Staff Member
Care Support
Our Care Support service provides a single point of contact with an expert who can help you navigate the care options for any loved ones who are in need of care, and also help you arrange and co-ordinate the best care possible.
Again, it’s easy to underestimate the value of this service, particularly if you don’t currently have caring responsibilities, but for those who need it, Care Support can change everything. Having an expert in your corner, who’s focused only on achieving the best possible outcome for you and your loved one, can make some of life’s hardest moments that little bit more bearable.
With 428 visitors in April alone, it’s clear that Care Support is making a difference.
“Unravelling the care system, when a relative is elderly is daunting. This service helped me organise the best care possible, and eased some of the pain” – Orange Genie Staff Member
Medical Specialist
If you need to arrange a specialist referral, or you’re waiting for an appointment, Medical Specialist can help you speed things along. Our experts have access to every NHS database, which gives them the best possible chance of finding you an unused appointment or a cancellation.
Given that the number of patients on NHS waiting lists hit a record high in 2017/18, with admitted patients waiting an average of 10 weeks for treatment to start, Medical Specialist is incredibly important. With 376 visits in April, we’re confident that our staff and contractors think so too.
“My mother was waiting on a hospital appointment and unfortunately on holiday at the time of surgery. The Orange Genie Medical specialists were able to provide multiple cancellation dates so we could still enjoy our holiday and not have to worry weeks/ months for the surgery” Orange Genie Education Supply Teacher
Support and Counselling
Support and counselling provides access to trained counsellors on a confidential helpline at any time of day or night. Specialist services are available for debt management, bereavement and family legal issues. The service can also be accessed online for those who don’t feel up to talking to a counsellor on the phone, and of course there are no usage limits.
Every life has its tough moments, and when they hit you, the value of Support and Counselling is difficult to overstate. Whatever the crisis, having someone who’s always there to talk things over can be a godsend, even a life-saver. We see Support and Counselling as one of our most important services, and in April 291 visitors proved us right.
“Faced with a need to access mental health services and a long NHS waiting list, I called OG Companion and spoke to a counsellor on a daily basis, easing my anxiety immediately” – Orange Genie Staff Member
Health
Health gives our people access to accurate information, both about wider health issues and specifically about their own health and how to manage it. It includes a detailed health risk assessment, which gives you your “health age” along with advice you can follow to improve your score. You can set goals and track your progress, and complete the assessment again to see how much you’ve improved.
Health perfectly compliments Fitness and Wellbeing to provide a full “lifestyle suite”, with all the tools our people and their families need to improve their wellbeing. Your health is one of the most important aspects of your life, and it affects almost every other aspect too. For those who need a nudge in the right direction, this service can make all the difference in the world, as 253 visitors discovered in April.
“The health assessment gave my wife and I the nudge we needed to improve our lifestyle. Just a few months later, we’re happier, healthier and more active. It’s made a real difference to us.” – Orange Genie Umbrella Employee
If you have any questions about Orange Genie Companion or if we can help in any way, please contact our expert team on 01296 468 483 or email info@orangegenie.com