Welsh SMEs Could Save on Health Insurance Premiums by Promoting Healthy Living

Small Welsh companies could be costing themselves money by failing to encourage good health among their employees, according to a new survey. Research from GE Capital suggests that 80 per cent of small Welsh businesses do nothing to promote exercise routines or healthy eating, potentially resulting in larger private medical insurance bills than would otherwise be the case. Just 10 per cent of the companies surveyed have a scheme in place to promote a healthy lifestyle, while another 10 per cent encourage employees to stretch their legs and take a lunch break.

As well as spending extra money on health insurance premiums, one third of the company reported losing at least 25 days a year due to health issues with employees, just above the UK average. Despite the poor health practices in Welsh SMEs, 52 per cent of owners and managers in Wales indicates that the provision of free health checks for employees could help, while one in five managers called on the government to provide better tax breaks for companies providing employees with gym memberships. A further ten per cent of respondents called for more information to be available about promoting healthy lifestyles in the workplace.