Group Protection

The vast majority of consumers are only prepared to pay less than £5 per week for income protection (IP) with almost a third not willing to pay anything, new research has revealed.

Poor workforce health accounts for more than a quarter reduction in productivity while presenteeism costs businesses three times more than sickness absence, Legal & General has found.

Stress is a bigger absence problem for businesses than acute medical conditions such as cancer, Group Risk Development (Grid) has found.

Legal & General has credited diversification into non mortgage related business for strong individual protection results that boosted its third quarter performance.

The number of women claiming sickness benefits is rising much faster than for men according to analysis of Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics by Legal & General.

Addressing employee stress is far more productive than agitating to sack unproductive workers, Canada Life has said.

Fewer appeals against Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) decisions are being found in the claimants favour, according to government statistics.

Fewer claimants are being found eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) despite government claims that the benefits system is providing greater protection for disabled people.

With many legislative changes in the works, the group risk market is hesitant at present. Owain Thomas examines the bigger picture of what is to come for group income protection.

More than half of SME employers fear the cost impact of the government's health and welfare reforms, according to Jelf Group.