Most SMEs offer health benefits, few use top-rated services – Canada Life

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.

Chris Morgan (pictured), head of proposition & product strategy, protection at Canada Life, said: “Small businesses depend on a healthy workforce – when employees are unwell, the impact on productivity can be significant. 

“It’s encouraging to see some SMEs are investing in health and wellbeing benefits, but it’s vital they regularly assess whether these benefits are effectively supporting their employee’s health and workforce productivity.

“As a group protection provider, we support conversations between employers and their employee benefits advisers about solutions that help people stay in work.”

Morgan added: “We work with them to analyse WeCare’s usage data and consider employee experiences and feedback, to demonstrate how integrated services deliver measurable improvements for both business performance and employee wellbeing.”