Research suggests that married UK employees receive more benefits than single staff members
15 November 2019
Thomsons Online Benefits, a global benefits management and employee engagement software company, has conducted a survey relating to benefits and the impact that somebody’s relationship status can have on what they receive.
The research drew findings from 250 HR decision-makers representing 567,680 employees, plus additional input from an extra 2,000 people employed in businesses with more than 250 staff. It found that a staggering 63% of companies offer additional benefits to staff members who are married or in a civil partnership. The extra value of these benefits can sometimes amount to figures that extend into the thousands.
The benefits that may be offered include additional paid time off for weddings and honeymoons, with employers offering an average of 5.4 extra days to accommodate these events. 17% of businesses would also present gifts to their staff to celebrate such occasions, with values averaging £77 per gift. Many companies also grant higher contribution levels to health and dental plans to married employees than to their single counterparts.
Married staff members who have children may be entitled to receive further increased benefits. These benefits include family healthcare and dental plans, with organisations 75% and 42% (respectively) more likely to offer family plans to married employees for healthcare and dental plans than to single or co-habiting individuals.
It is not just workplace benefits that are affected by an employee’s marital status – there is greater scope for married employees to adopt flexible working plans than for single members of staff. 53% of businesses grant flexible working patterns to married staff, whilst only 37% offer the same to single employees.
The Consulting Director of Thomson Online Benefits, Jack Curzon said “It’s great that employers are supporting families and giving people paid time off to enjoy an important life event – but this treatment needs to be extended to all.”
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