The use of Voluntary Benefits is a good way for employers to offer a broader array of employee benefits in their benefit offering at no added direct cost to the employer. Access to benefits is in itself an employee benefit. Employees appreciate access to benefits they want to purchase and are willing to pay for through payroll deductions.
Voluntary Benefits are available from many group insurers as well as some specialty insurers. Depending on overall employee participation, a group insurer may be a better fit than a specialty insurer.
Specialty insurers have lower participation requirements, which allow access to more benefits for smaller groups or low participation large groups.
Voluntary benefits available include: Dental, Life, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Vision, Hospital Income, Cancer, Critical Illness, Spouse & Dependent Life and Accident Insurance.
For information on the effects of a disability in the workplace, the Council for Disability Awareness, a not-for-profit organization, invites you to visit their Employer Resource & Information Center. This website has useful information and tools, such as the downloadable Employee Disability Awareness Toolkit featuring:
- 5 Questions Every Worker Should Ask about how to prepare for disability
- Disability Myths and Misconceptions
- Disability Statistics
- Disability Awareness “Quick Quiz”
- Personal Financial Security Plan