Most SMEs offer health benefits, few use top-rated services – Canada Life
The survey showed that 82% of staff provided access to at least one insurance-based health or wellbeing benefit.
Research from Canada Life found most micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) offered at least one health or wellbeing benefit to staff.
The survey showed that 82% of staff provided access to at least one insurance-based health or wellbeing benefit.
The most common benefits offered were virtual mental health counselling and online self-help stress management tools (28%), private medical insurance (27%) and annual health checks (26%).
Employee assistance programmes were provided by 21% of SMEs, group critical illness insurance by 20%, occupational health services by 16%, group income protection insurance by 14%, phone and video GP appointments by 12% and online nutrition and fitness programmes by 10%.
Additionally, the research found high satisfaction among those who provided these services.
Nearly all SMEs offering online fitness and nutrition programmes (96%) thought they were effective at reducing workplace absence and supporting worker health.
This was followed by phone and video GP appointments (92%) and private medical insurance (92%).
Nine in 10 SMEs who offered virtual mental health counselling or online stress management tools, occupational health services, group critical illness and group income protection also agreed these made a positive difference.
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