Canada’s first App Library to support absent employees created by ORCHA for LifeWorks

LifeWorks, a world leader in digital and in-person wellbeing solutions, has commissioned ORCHA, the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps, to create a health app library designed to support employees when they are absent from work.

UK-based ORCHA is the world’s leading app review and distribution company, operating at a local, national and regional level across North America, Europe, Australasia and the Middle East.

LifeWorks provides approximately 24,000 client companies in more than 160 countries with employee wellbeing solutions designed to strengthen both organisational and personal resilience.  Programmes include employee and family assistance plans, absence management plans, retirement consulting, and pension and benefits administration.

Through the LifeWorks Workplace Absence and Disability Management offer employees are provided with a wide range of support to help them recover and return to being productive at work.  The new partnership with ORCHA makes LifeWorks the first company in Canada to add access to a library of high-quality digital health tools to its employee wellbeing offer.

The LifeWorks and ORCHA partnership will launch later in 2021, supporting employees across Canada with digital health tools to support them through both long- and short-term conditions, including Long COVID.  The library will only feature apps that have been tested against more than 350 digital health standards and is to be integrated into existing LifeWorks platforms to ensure a seamless user experience.

As part of the partnership, LifeWorks case managers will be able to directly recommend apps from their own pro account and send these suggestions to employees via email or text. Case managers will also be able to access CPD-accredited (industry recognised) online training modules through the ORCHA Academy.

Along with its app search facility, the landing page of the formulary will feature a carousel of apps felt to be most directly relevant to absent employees. These will focus on diabetes, physical activity, sleep, depression and mental wellbeing.

Nigel Branker, president, health and productivity solutions and executive vice president, LifeWorks, said:

“At LifeWorks we are continually looking for ways to support the total wellbeing of our clients’ employees. By partnering with ORCHA, we are able to leverage their global experience in the assessment and distribution of digital health tools to enhance the support we provide.”

Dr Lloyd Humphreys, managing director of ORCHA, said:

“The holistic approach to employee wellbeing offered by LifeWorks is admirable and we are pleased to be able to be a part of this impressive programme.  Being able to offer a wide breadth of high-quality apps from a single digital library will ensure employees are able to get the right help at the right time, with the ability to work proactively on their health and wellbeing.

“The partnership further demonstrates ORCHA’s flexibility to deliver on a global scale, from regional charities and health systems to government bodies and regulators and now in Canada with an employer health leader.”