SMEs at risk of long-term sickness

Almost half (44%) of SME employers believe long-term sickness for a key employee would have a significant - or even critical (24%) - impact of the welfare of their business, research by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) and Unum has shown. More than half (55%), meanwhile, said they would do everything within their power to assist a member of staff back to work following a period of illness. Despite this, the take up of protection benefits remains low, with only 8% of the 1000 UK businesses surveyed (91% were SMEs) offering income protection to their staff. More included life insur...