Money’s tight, right? Many of us are looking at our finances like never before and cutting what we can. TV subscriptions have been cancelled and the weekly shop cut back to essentials. 

Given that income is stretched for so many, few of us can afford unexpected costs in the coming months. So here are five employee benefits that can help with hefty health bills, reduce expenses, and help you to feel healthy, happier and less anxious. 

Dental billsSomething to smile about 

No-one saves up for the dentist. But if you lose a crown or need emergency treatment, you might wish you had a fund to dip into. 

Dental work is usually unavoidable when you need it, and NHS dentists are hard to find right now. A BBC investigation found that nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for treatment under the health service. 

When the pain is bad and you need to see someone in an emergency quickly, you might be forced to go private. The financial hit can be considerable but if your costs are covered by a benefits package, you won’t have to worry about finding extra cash to pay for it – you can just claim it back. 

With an Enjoy Benefits Healthcare Cash Plan dental treatment is reimbursed, usually within five working days and the funds are transferred straight into your bank account. 

Many employers choose to provide a certain level of company paid cover and employees can upgrade or add family members with a small, regular contribution from your salary. 

The cost of regular check-ups is included too so you can keep on top of any potential issues and feel confident next time you bite into that apple at lunchtime. 

From dental to physiotherapy, find out about all the treatments you can get with an Enjoy Benefits Healthcare Cash Plan.

Seeing the benefit

Many of us spend our work days sitting in front of a computer screen and it’s essential to take care of our eyesight. Glasses are essential for some people, and we all know how pricey it can be to replace those as our sight changes.

Annoyingly, eyesight also tends to get worse with age, so whether it’s for driving or reading, the cost of frames and lenses can amount to the equivalent of a small mortgage, especially as the ones that look the best always seem to be the most expensive. 

From as little as £1 per employee per week, an Enjoy Benefits Healthcare Cash Plan means new specs are affordable when you need them as you’ll get the cost reimbursed. The same applies to physio, health screening, counselling and complimentary therapies with the Healthcare Cash Plan. 

Children are automatically included and family members can be added for an extra cost to staff. The cost is taken out of your wages before you’re paid so you’ll hardly notice the difference. It would be short sighted not to consider it, right?! 

Find out about all the treatments you can get with an Enjoy Benefits Healthcare Cash Plan.

The benefit that could have you jumping for joy

The increase in working from home also gives many of us the flexibility to exercise when it’s convenient. Gyms aren’t cheap and can seem a luxury when the cost of living is going up. 

An Enjoy Benefits corporate gym membership scheme is a great way for you to help staff to stay, happy and healthy as it enables employees to spread the cost of an annual gym membership with no up-front or joining fees. Monthly charges are taken from your salary and can save up to 12% in National Insurance Contributions. 

Choose from thousands of gym or leisure centres, boot camps, yoga, pilates studios as well as other suitable health settings, at rates discounted for businesses. The scheme saves staff money, is great for your mental and physical health and cost neutral to the business as well as being a great perk. Saving pounds while you lose pounds could be just the motivation you need.

If the gym really isn’t for you, how about the Cycle to Work Scheme where you can buy a bike for commuting and make savings of up to 47%?

Use our calculator to work out how much you can save each year by being an Enjoy Benefits member and read more about Salary Sacrifice Gym Membership. 

Healthy financial habits 

Do you dread looking at your bank balance? Silently pray your card isn’t refused at the till ? It’s a stressful way to live. Getting budgeting help and advice could be one of the best things you ever do. It gives you the tools and confidence to manage your finances, and doesn’t cost a penny. It comes as part of the Health and Wellbeing programme from Enjoy Benefits. 

This online package offers a range of videos and factsheets designed to help with different aspects of emotional and physical health, from money worries to sleep to managing anxiety. 

Mental health charity Mind says 1 in 6 workers experience anxiety, low mood and stress at work so prioritising mental health has never been so important, especially in these uncertain financial times. 

Waiting lists for treatments can be long and paying for professional help is unaffordable for many. Getting help to manage sleep problems, anxiety or depression means fewer sick days, while an up-to-date budget means less worry and distraction. Knowing where you can save money and when you can afford to chuck a few treats into your shopping basket means you’ll be able to approach the till with confidence. 

If you’d like to find out more about the Wellbeing Programme from Enjoy Benefits, you can browse the full offer here.

We explain the package in detail in this recent blog post too. 

Counting the cost of sickness 

No one expects to be off long-term sick. Depending on your company’s sick pay policy, you might find you have a reduced income – another thing to worry about on top of your health. 

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) The sickness absence rate in the UK in 2021 rose to 2.2%, from a record low of 1.8% in 2020; the highest it has been since 2010, so as well as a financial hit for staff there’s a productivity cost to employers too. 

An income protection policy pays out a regular income if you’re unable to work due to long-term illness or disability. This will typically be around 50% to 60% of your basic salary and kicks in after an initial period (often 13 or 26 weeks). 

The policy will put cash in your pocket so it means you’re not left trying to cover your usual outgoings with less money. There are also lots of add-ons, like access to physio and occupational therapists, meaning you could be back at work earlier than expected which is even better for your budget.

Read more about the benefits of income protection for your business and staff here https://www.enjoybenefits.co.uk/risk-benefits/income-protection/

You can take a look at the full list of employee benefits that we offer here.

Please get in touch with us if you’d like to find out more about any of the employee benefits that we can offer your organisation.

Call 0800 088 7315 or use our Contact Form.

 About Us

 At Enjoy Benefits, we have great experience in helping companies of all sizes introduce benefits that are suitable for their workplace.

Benefits are easy to set up and ongoing administration is then run through a hub, allowing employees to manage their own benefits while the employer can see which benefits are proving popular and what level of take-up each has had.

If you would like an obligation free chat to discuss which benefits might work for your business and your employees, please contact us by calling 0800 088 7315 or using our Contact Form.