Diversity factors are becoming an increasing focus for employers when they are designing health benefits, according to panellists at the Health & Protection IPMI Summit.
Adam Harding, divisional director – international benefits for Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing, (pictured right) emphasised that clients were definitely asking about diversity and how this was addressed in provider benefits offerings.
“We have seen the change in the provision from the insurers in the last couple of years which is trying to address those needs,” Harding continued.
“They’re doing okay but can they do more? I believe so.
“But it’s definitely something clients are focusing on – not just in providing their benefits but also in their strategy across the business from recruitment, retention to what they do with their own products and services when they’re facing off for their clients as well.
“So it’s becoming embedded across clients.”
Takako Nagata, senior employee benefits consultant – international, PIB Employee Benefits, (pictured centre) added this area was growing in importance because multinational companies wanted to keep hold of and recruit top talent.
“Wherever they are, they can choose,” Nagata said.
“You can hire anyone anywhere in the world so IPMI is important to grow the healthcare and wider coverage, so companies find IPMI is important in that regard”
Nageen Khan, senior global benefits consultant at Aon, (pictured left) added that in the past there had probably been a disparity between a company’s culture and HR philosophy versus the benefits they were being offered.
“I think over recent times, with diversity and inclusion coming at the forefront, that’s starting to amalgamate and come together in terms of how they are being perceived as an organisation, of being an employer of choice.
“How are they seen as an employer of choice? And how they recruit the right talent and bring that employee base in – looking at their backgrounds, their upbringing, the social and economic environment that they would be coming into.
“And the benefits tie into that and making sure that the international benefit offering that you are giving to the employees – do they feel comfortable, secure that they are going to benefit from.
“So as an organisation our clients do really focus on making sure they are making the choices and they come across as an employer of choice.”