Group protection for SMEs

No one wants to think about someone passing away – not their family, friends, you their employer or their workmates. When it happens, it has a massive impact. It hits loved ones especially hard, not only emotionally, but also financially whether in the short term with funeral expenses, and the long term. And it affects the people they worked closely with too. Group Life can often be put in place for as little as 1% of your salary roll and is the cover most employers choose to take up first. If an employee was to pass away, the cover would pay their beneficiaries – usually their family or loved ones - a tax-efficient lump sum. The money could really help those left behind.And as with any group protection claim, our aim is always to settle and pay quickly. In 2023, Group Life claims were paid, on average, in just 3.3 days. We paid out more than 2,100 claims, to the loved ones of employees of all different ages. When choosing a policy, you decide who to cover, and what benefit level to set.

You may also choose a Master Trust option. In the event of a claim, it’s a service which can take the strain and responsibility away from you when distributing payments to beneficiaries. This helps you design a policy which meets the needs of your business, your employees, and your budget, no matter how big or small. If you need to make a claim for an employee, the process is simple. There’s no unnecessary paperwork and you’ll get a dedicated case manager to help you through the process and signpost additional support. But Aviva Group Life cover doesn't only help financially.

It gives your employees access to a range of wellbeing services, many of which could really help in tough times like this, including access to mental health and bereavement support – and some of the support extends to the employee’s family too. All wellbeing services are available from day one of the policy, offering you and your employees support in different circumstances.Plus, you’ll have access to a suite of workplace Wellbeing Training options for you to take advantage of, including regular dial-in webinars. Whether you’re just starting up, scaling up or maturing, having group life cover in place can help give your business a competitive edge, and attract and retain talent. Wellbeing Training and Wellbeing services are non-contractual benefits which Aviva can change or withdraw at any time. Available to employees who are permanent residents of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. Terms may apply. To find out more, speak to your financial adviser or visit unbiased.co.uk if you don’t have one.

Group Income Protection can offer an attractive employee benefit, to help you not only support and retain your employees but also attract new talent. If an employee can’t work due to long-term illness or injury it can hit them hard in the pocket. Absence also hits your business if you have no one else to step in. You may not have the luxury of a HR department or Occupational Health team. If an employee needs clinical support, or help to return to work safely, your time and resources may be limited. Aviva Group Income Protection can support your employee financially, supplementing their lost income by paying up to 80% of it whilst they are off work. It’s quick and easy to set up, our online claims process is simple and payment is confirmed in good time.Plus it saves you the employee’s usual salary expense, which you could then put towards temporary recruitment. You can choose a deferred period (between 13 and 52 weeks) – this is the point at which financial support would start. The longer the deferred period – in other words the amount of time the employee has been absent – the cheaper the premium. The deferred period is usually chosen based on when sick pay would end. You decide who to insure to work within your budget. And to keep set up simple, medical underwriting is usually not needed, meaning minimal paperwork. It’s not only financial support. The policy supports you and your workforce in other ways through plenty of added value benefits. If staff absence does occur, you’ll want your employees back in work as soon as they are able. With early intervention and rehabilitation support, you can turn to Aviva for help. Our clinical pathways offer tailored support for common conditions including mental health issues, cancer and musculoskeletal concerns. They provide timely practical and emotional support, before, during and after claim. We may refer an employee to an external clinical expert to help them better manage their health, support them through their absence and where possible, return to work.

Aviva Group Income Protection cover also gives you and your employees access to a range of wellbeing services. From annual Health Checks, and digital GP’s to tools to manage mental health, an employee assistance programme and much more. All available from day one of cover, helping you look after your workforce and champion wellbeing within your business.And you’ll have access to a suite of Wellbeing Training options, including regular dial-in webinars. Wellbeing Training, wellbeing services, early intervention and rehabilitation support are non-contractual benefits which Aviva can change or withdraw at any time.

Available to employees who are permanent residents of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.

Terms may apply.

When someone is hit with a serious health issue, it can affect their finances, as well as their physical and mental health. If they’re off work, less money may be coming in, but their outgoings may be going up – childcare costs, travelling to and from appointments, adapting their home. The list can go on. While they’re trying to concentrate on coping or getting better, financial burdens can add to their worries. What’s keeping them up at night could worry you too.

With Group Critical Illness, the employee would receive a lump sum on the diagnosis of a specified critical illness, or if they undergo an operation covered by the policy. And it’s not only their health, it also pays out if their child is diagnosed with a condition covered too.

At set up, the choice is yours. You choose who to cover, how much you want to cover them for, and for what conditions – selecting from a list of standard or extended conditions. You’ll also have the option to add additional features to build a policy that’s tailored to you.

And to make it easy, there’s no medical underwriting, but pre-existing conditions are excluded from a claim. This tailored approach helps you design a policy which meets the needs of your recruitment and retention strategy. It shows you care about your employees by supporting them when it counts.

Critical illnesses are commonplace and can come at any time of life. Take cancer as just one example, it regularly hits the headlines and is the main cause for claims.

Over the last few years, our data has shown that, on average claimants are in their forties. Younger than you’d maybe expect. It’s therefore a key consideration when seeking out employee benefits that could truly make a difference. If you need to make a claim for an employee, the process is simple. There’s no unnecessary paperwork and they’ll be supported by a dedicated case manager throughout the claim.

But the cover doesn’t only help financially.

Aviva Group Critical Illness Cover also gives your employees access a range of wellbeing services, many of which could really help in tough times like serious illness, including access to a personal nurse service after a diagnosis, mental health support and much more.

Most of these services are available from day one of the policy, regardless of whether a claim is made. Support like this can offer your employees, and you as their employer, support, and peace of mind. All in all, an employee benefit which could help you stand out from the competition. Plus, you’ll have access to a suite of workplace Wellbeing Training options for you to take advantage of, including regular dial-in webinars.

Wellbeing Training and Wellbeing services are non-contractual benefits which Aviva can change or withdraw at any time. Available to employees who are permanent residents of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. Terms may apply.

To find out more, speak to your financial adviser or visit unbiased.co.uk if you don’t have one.