A Health Cash Plan can really be an extremely useful benefit to offer employees through these tough times, and they are one of the lowest cost benefits around. Here are 6 reasons why every business should have one:
- Accessibility and Affordability – A Health Cash Plan is available from as few as 3 employees and does not cost the earth. For employers who have 10 or more employees the cost is likely to be less than £5 per month per employee
- Discounts Portal – Most Health Cash Plans include access to significant retail discounts, and they can make a real difference. It’s hard to give double digit pay rises to employees, but you can help them save money on the things they need to buy such as food and clothing. There is a wide appeal to all age groups, after all we all need to eat!! So, offers such as 4% to 7% off at a variety of supermarkets on an ongoing basis are extremely popular, and are typical of the discounts available on these types of plans
- Health Benefits – When money is tight many routine check-ups e.g., dental, and optical get missed by employees due to the cost. But having these regular check-ups is vital as they include screening for potentially serious and longer-term medical issues such as diabetes, glaucoma, oral cancer. With a Health Cash Plan employees can claim back the cost, and employers can help to maintain a healthy workforce. Additionally, many employers are paying for employee eye tests for those employees who spend a lot of their time in front of a screen. Did you know that offering a Health Cash Plan where employees can claim back the cost of their eye tests fulfils the employer DSE obligations?
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Most Cash Plans include an option to include an EAP. Small businesses can find it hard to support employees with their mental wellbeing. But if employees are worried or stressed it can seriously impact their productivity at work. Offering an EAP gives employees access to trained counsellors who can help them with issues such as relationships, health, bereavement etc. And now, with so many people being worried about their finances, most EAPS have specialist financial and debt counsellors
- Virtual GP Service – It is widely reported in the press about the exodus of doctors from the profession. This makes it harder for employees to see a doctor when they need to, and this can result in time off work and lost earnings. With a Virtual GP they can access a telephone or video consultation with a GP who can prescribe or refer in exactly the same way as any other GP
- Employee Attraction and Retention – Employers are telling us that they cannot even get job candidates to walk through the door for interviews. They are also being asked what benefits they offer. Offering benefits and including them on job adverts and company websites helps to make an employer stand out as caring and benevolent. It can make the difference between attracting the best people or having to settle for second best. The Health Cash Plan is one of the most popular and useful benefits that all employees of all ages can make use of every day
