WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT
All business owners need to carefully consider the perks they offer their employees. This is imperative for a whole host of different reasons; not only is it important when it comes to retaining your current talent, but also it is vital when attracting the best candidates to any job positions you have available. There are many different options available, from job progression opportunities to game rooms. However, one thing most employees are after is health insurance, which has recently topped a survey as the most desirable job perk.
Survey reveals health insurance is what workers want
The survey was conducted by CouponCodePros.com, which is a money-saving website. Almost 3,000 employees responded to the emailed surveys, with 74 per cent selecting private health care as the benefit they want the most. This topped the survey by a significant degree, with other popular options including the likes of job progression opportunities at 41 per cent while 42 per cent of respondents choose flexible working hours. This isn’t the first time that research has provided proof to the growing popularity of health insurance as an employee perk, and it is not hard to see why this is such a highly sought after option.
Consider international health insurance for global businesses
Nowadays, business is being conducted on an increasingly global scale, with employees needing to travel abroad on a regular basis. This is why international health insurance is such a valued benefit, especially at big employers like DSC Personnel. This type of policy ensures that employees are protected no matter where in the world they are located. If you do not provide your employees with this benefit, and they need to travel on a regular basis, they will need to invest in some form of insurance to ensure they are covered while they are away. Travel insurance is the most obvious solution, however, these policies have their limitations. They are only usually beneficial for emergency cover, and the cover limits and benefits are extremely low. Not only this, but most policies are country specific, which isn’t ideal for those who are going to be going from country to country.
International health insurance is ideal for those travelling frequently, which means your employees will have to invest their own money in this perk anyway, and they may see this as unfair if the reason they are travelling is part of the job. You should also consider the fact that you will be able to lock in excellent discounts by investing in group insurance plans, which means you will benefit from a much lower rate than your employee would if they were to take out the policy themselves. Thus, if you really cannot afford to take this out on the behalf of your employees as a free perk, you could offer them the prospect of being part of your company’s group insurance plan. Needless to say, this will appeal to them much more than taking out their own individual policy will.
Why employee benefits matter
You shouldn’t ignore the importance of employee perks either. You may see this as an unnecessary expense, but the impact it has on your business will certainly be worth it. Did you know that the majority of employees state that they do not feel valued in their job? Employee perks help to ensure that your staff feel appreciated and this can have a huge impact on productivity levels, ensuring your employees have a positive attitude to their job, which will show in their levels of quality and efficiency, which can only be good news for your business. Not only do you need to consider your current crop of talent and how perks can help to retain your best employees, but it can also help you to attract the best talent when posting job advertisements. Competition is fierce these days, and you need to make sure your business is attractive to potential candidates, which can certainly be the case if you offer a good employee benefit package.
When it comes to international health insurance, another benefit you should consider is the fact that you will reduce employee absences too. It is not uncommon for people to pick up flu symptoms and illnesses when they travel to another country, however, with health insurance in place your employees will be much more likely to go to a doctors to get the medication and treatment they require. The same can also be said when they are in their home country and feel unwell, as they will be able to use the policy then too. There can be nothing more frustrating for employers than unexpected absences, and while they cannot be avoided altogether, they will certainly be reduced, which in turn will again do wonders in terms of productivity.
Aside from this, you need to think about the benefits you will experience personally too. Let’s not ignore the fact that you will be able to lock in cheaper insurance premiums for yourself through group discounts. Moreover, you may find that you are entitled to some tax breaks for the contributions that are made by your company. Of course this is entirely dependent on your company and where it is based and the tax you are eligible for. Nevertheless, it is definitely something that is worth enquiring about.
When you take all of the points that have been mentioned into account, it really is not difficult to see why you should consider offering global medical insurance as an employee perk. Research shows that this is the benefit that employees value the most, which is ensured to improve their attitude towards the company, leading to increased quality and productivity, and helping you to retain your best talent. However, the advantages certainly do not end there, as you will be able to attract better candidates, reduce employee absences and offer your employees group purchasing power, which you can benefit from yourself as well. Ensure you are reaping the most rewards from your employee benefit package and consider the prospect of international health insurance perks.