How offering a cash plan can be more beneficial than a pay rise

Instead of a very small increase on their basic salaries, employees at Thomas Owen Care Ltd, a care home company in Huddersfield, have been able to claim back £100s of pounds in every day healthcare costs, by utilising a company paid health cash plan.

Administered by healthcare provider, Simplyhealth, employees at Thomas Owen Care Ltd have been able to claim back money on dental and optical bills, as well as on trips to the physiotherapist and osteopath, up to annual limits, since September 2010.

Joe Martin, Director for Thomas Owen Care comments: "Due to the economic climate over the past few years, we, like many other organisations have had to rationalise our operational costs, and have had to carefully consider the benefits package available to staff. We pride ourselves on looking after the health and wellbeing of our employees. As such, we wanted to offer our staff a benefit that would also help them in their everyday lives. The physiotherapy benefit is really useful to our employees as they often need to lift heavy objects, which can have an impact on their back health.

"Over the last couple of years we would only have been able to provide our staff with a very small increase on their wages. A health cash plan is an affordable cost that will benefit every one of our 110 employees, helping to take care of their healthcare needs."

Howard Hughes, spokesperson for Simplyhealth said: "Health cash plans are often seen as affordable ways for organisations to reward staff and to invest in their health and wellbeing. By introducing cash plans, employees feel cared for and in turn more motivated to achieve company goals, resulting in a productive workforce that has a positive effect on the bottom line. Happy employees are also much easier to retain, while a benefits package that includes a valued health plan, can act as a draw for new talent."

Thomas Owen Care Ltd is a family owned care home company. It first opened as a mental health nursing home in 1989, but has since acquired two further residential care homes, with 34 beds each, for older people and those with dementia. Thomas Owen Care Ltd are also about to open  Hopton Care Cottages, a new luxury 60 bed ground floor care home, in West Yorkshire.

Simplyhealth provides health cash plans, dental plans, self funded health plans and private medical insurance to 11,000 companies in the UK. Our plans can help recruit and retain staff, manage absence and help employers fulfil their duty of care needs.

For further information about Simplyhealth please visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk/forbusiness or call 0845 075 0063.