Employers could be wasting an opportunity to get value from their Group Risk benefits by not effectively communicating them to staff, according to research from Group Risk Development (GRiD).
Research from the organisation which represents group risk interests found:
Only 16% make a point of issuing regular communications on their benefits package
30% detail Group Risk protection benefits in their employee benefit statements
Just one in five (21%) employers see it as a major selling point at interviews
38% clearly lay out Group Risk protection benefits on their intranet or in their staff handbook for existing staff
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD said: "When staff need practical support - if diagnosed with a critical illness, or are unable to work through ill-health or injury, for example - then these benefits come into their own. It is imperative that employers understand how best to use Group Risk benefits and the supporting services that come along with them so they can let their staff know how to access them when needed.
"Our research also shows that a third of employers (32%) use group risk benefits to attract and retain key personnel, so effective communication is vital in achieving that goal."
Some 12% of employers said they ‘make a point of not communicating their Group Risk benefits to ensure they are not abused'.
Moxham continued, "We all have a part to play in making sure employers are aware of what they are buying and how best to use it; likewise that employees understand the value of these benefits and are able to access help and advice when they need to.
" It is very sad to see that some employers purposefully don't communicate these benefits - if those employers better understood them they would be much more enthusiastic about espousing the value to their workforce."
