How group health benefits help your bottom line

Benefits are vital for attracting the right talent to your company and keeping it there. Retention is especially important when you consider that employers typically spend about a fifth of an employee's salary to replace a worker who leaves.² So for an employee earning $50,000 a year, it costs about $10,000 to replace him, versus an average annual health premium of $6,690 (of which the employee typically pays a portion).³

When companies do not offer group insurance, employees often look for a higher salary. But many small business owners overlook that contributing to employee health insurance can be potentially more cost-effective than raising an employee's salary. Why? Health insurance contributions are tax-deductible to the employer and tax-exempt for the employee. Plus, consider that 79 percent of workers would choose new or additional benefits over a pay raise.⁴

When workers are worried about how they're going to pay For things or handle a medical problem, they're stressed and distracted. Highly stressed employees are less engaged, less productive, and are absent from work more than those who aren't stressed.⁵ Having health benefits can help workers prioritize their health, keeping them well, and on the job.