Savvy Australian businesses should target their employees’ financial product needs in order to win the talent war, according to MetLife Insurance.
The MetLife Study of International Employee Benefits Trends found 57 per cent of Australian workers were highly concerned about their family’s financial security if they died prematurely.
It also found 54 per cent were extremely concerned about keeping up with bills if the main bread-winner could no longer work because of disablement.
Despite employees’ concerns, only 30 to 40 per cent of Australian companies offer staff access to benefits such as life, disability and income insurance, and financial planning.
This presents a clear opportunity for Australian businesses to help their employees and attract staff, according to MetLife Australia chief executive Tassin Barnard.
“Employees have told us they want it [financial products]. There’s a short window of opportunity for employers to step in and to do it for them,” Barnard told InvestorDaily.
The group insurance chief described employee benefits as a huge market for financial advisers.
Basic level of cover would cost around 1 per cent of an employee’s salary package, which is a fraction of the cost of recruiting and training a new worker, she added.
Although there is employee demand for financial products and services there is little on offer from Australian businesses, Barnard added.
In the US, employees generally own 6.9 products through their workplace. However in Australia and the UK, employees generally own two or fewer products through their employer.
The annual study interviewed more than 2500 staff in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, India and Mexico.
The Australian findings were based on 500 employee interviews and 250 with employers.
