Four good reasons to provide health insurance for your employees

Very often small business employers are not keen to provide medical insurance for their employees. It seems like a big expense. However, there are many benefits for the employer, the workers, and the company as a whole, and the cost need not be prohibitive:

1. Cut down on sickness absence. In a small business, employee absence can be devastating as key players can be at the heart of the business. In the UK, 168 million days a year are lost through absence, at a cost to business of £12.12 billion. Private health cover could speed up the recovery of your employees and return them to work happier and healthier.

2. Make sure your staff feel valued. Loyalty is very important in a small business and showing employees that they are valued is key to keeping that loyalty. Providing medical insurance for your workers is one way in which you could show how important your staff are to you. When people feel valued, they are happier in their place of work.

3. Attract good employees. In a small business every employee plays a big part in the company's success so it's very important to hire quality staff. One way to entice a good calibre of employee is to offer them incentives to join your team. Studies have shown that out of all the job perks available, medical insurance is the most desirable to employees.

4. Extra perks. You and your staff will always benefit from the peace of mind that private medical insurance brings, but from a personal point of view there are perks for you - both as a business person and an individual. For example, your own health insurance premiums will be cheaper than your personal medical insurance, and each policy will have its own additional features too. AXA for example, offers you a business service which means that you can 'maintain contact with a customer, prospective client or supplier if you're in hospital or confined to bed due to ill health. The service includes sending a message to clients or suppliers by telephone, fax or email or letter writing on your behalf and up to £1,000 cash benefits for out of pocket expenses.'