Offering Comprehensive Health Benefits

For Your Employees’ Unique Needs

We now live in a country that is perhaps more diverse than ever before, where bright minds from different backgrounds and ideologies bring great ideas to work every day. It is important to support every employee with care and appreciation because they help our economy thrive. As far as equal opportunity is concerned, it is not only about avoiding discrimination at work but also ensuring that every employee feels safe at work and knows that their company has their backs.

A big part of that is offering high-quality health insurance and benefits to the employees who help every business grow and succeed. While offering a blanket policy is a good start, your company must remember that every employee is not the same. Your health benefits need to be comprehensive so that the unique needs of your staff are met. Let’s talk a bit about the issue of health in America and how management can improve within their own company.

Why Health Benefits Are Important

To comprehend the issues associated with exclusively offering blanket health insurance policies, it is important to understand the main issue, which is that there are many health disparities in the U.S., especially among different minorities, genders, and sexual orientations. Some people are more likely to be obese, others often have high blood pressure, and some are more prone to heart disease, amongst other possibilities.

The point is that your company needs to understand these differences and think about how you can modify your health benefits package accordingly. Due to the cost of group rates, it is often cheaper for companies to offer blanket policies, but if you really want your employees to be healthy and happy, then it is worth it to spend a bit more to offer a more comprehensive option or allow employees more choices for the types of coverage they receive.

When management actively tries to offer better coverage, it may cost more upfront, but you could see your bottom line increase in the long run. The fact is that employees want to feel like their company really cares about them, and when you do your part, your employees will often return the favor. When you promote employee health, you will likely see that your staff has more pride in their work, and that may lead to better employee retention. Also, when your workers have the tools at their disposal to improve their health and heal when they are sick, they will also likely call out less often.

In the end, offering comprehensive health benefits is a win for everyone.

Care for Women and Working Mothers

The health benefits that your company offers must cater to the needs of women and working mothers. Women make up over 50% of the population, and they are a driving factor of your corporate growth, so their needs should be met as much as anyone else. The human resources team should be aware of many of the common ailments that women face, which range from heart disease and diabetes to the threat of breast cancer. Again, women of all backgrounds need to know that your company has their backs.

An area where many businesses drop the ball is when it comes to maternity leave. Many companies will be in a rush to get the employee back as quickly as possible after they have a child, but when they are not provided the time to recover in body and mind, then there is an increased chance of depression, and it is not fair for anyone to feel pressured by their job.

Instead, those who go on maternity leave must take the time they need and prioritize self-care. That means getting enough sleep so that they are in a good place to properly care for their baby. It is also a good idea to create a plan with their partner to take shifts watching the child so that neither parent becomes burned out. Then, when you feel comfortable with your health, you can return to work.

It is important to remember that even if they are not a mother, many women are also caregivers of parents and friends. It is a noble effort, but it can also be very draining, and it can affect their work. If someone comes to HR and asks for a modified schedule or additional days off, then the company should be sympathetic. The employee will appreciate that you see them as a real person instead of a cog in the machine.

Other Benefits to Add to Your Health Plan

There are other great perks and benefits that you should add to the plans to ensure that your staff has everything they need to stay healthy and live to their best potential. For instance, you should provide your staff with annual health screenings during working hours where employees can get a comprehensive checkup so they can be made aware of any underlying health issues that they may be experiencing.

This is a great perk because not all employees have the time or the transportation necessary to visit a doctor once they leave work. Some companies take this idea even further by using the results of those health screenings to modify the cost of the worker’s monthly insurance premiums. So, someone who is in great shape could pay a few dollars less, and those who want to save money will feel encouraged to work towards a healthier lifestyle.

Your organization could also set up exercise programs where the employees are encouraged to sign up for group activities like running a marathon or walking the local hiking trails. You could also set each staff member up with a free gym membership at a nearby establishment. These are great ways to encourage the staff to get the blood pumping and be their healthiest selves.

In the end, choosing the best health benefits for your employees is of utmost importance, both for their safety and their overall happiness and job satisfaction. Consider the advice discussed here, and your staff will show their appreciation through their work.