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Putting your people first: Why tailored employee benefits in SMEs matter

See how SMEs in Asia can tailor employee benefits and group medical insurance to varied employee needs while managing costs.

Amid talent shortages, rising healthcare costs, and growing employee expectations, Marsh’s Health on Demand 2025 report reveals that employees at smaller organisations are less likely than those at larger organisations to say their benefits needs are met. 

The gap is more pronounced at organisations with fewer than 50 employees: Only 42% of employees say their benefits meet their needs, compared with 60%–68% at larger organisations.

 

Perception that comprehensive medical benefits are usually only available to large organisations

 

Are SME employee benefits meeting industry standards?

SME employees also report that their benefits fall short compared to other organisations in their industry. At the smallest companies, only one third of employees believe their benefits compare well.

 

Employees who feel their employer cares about their health and well-being

Our study found a marked difference between employee perceptions of how much their employer cares about their health and well-being at larger and smaller sized companies. The smallest companies experience the largest gap, with only half of employees feeling that their health and well-being matter to their employer.

 

Tailoring benefits to help SMEs attract and retain talent

As SMEs face significant resource constraints, they should consider exploring benefits solutions designed to help them meet the diverse needs of their employees. Offering flexibility and choice in benefits plans can increase employee satisfaction and boost talent retention. When competing with larger organisations for talent, SMEs offering tailored benefits choices can provide a competitive advantage to win the war for talent.  

 

How can Marsh help SMEs provide inclusive and cost-effective employee benefits? 

Marsh offers employee benefits solutions for businesses with as few as two employees, including:

  1. Fixed-rate or capped-rate-increase contracts for multiple years, regardless of inflation and claims performance.
  2. Access to a comprehensive range of employee benefits (usually available to large organisations) through our global network and partnerships.
  3. Digitised benefits administration for greater convenience. 

In today’s environment of rising expectations, escalating healthcare costs and ongoing talent shortages, SMEs can no longer adopt a one-size-fits-all benefits strategy. In an increasingly competitive talent market, offering tailored and flexible benefits can help SMEs demonstrate care, strengthen loyalty and create a meaningful employee value proposition.

David Branagh, Commercial Segment Leader, Marsh Health and Benefits, Asia 

Speak to our consultants to find out how you can build smarter benefits to attract and retain a stronger workforce.

Health on Demand 2025 is a study designed to help employers of all sizes globally understand their employees’ health and well-being challenges and needs in today’s evolving landscape. It provides insights and guidance to help employers invest in their people’s health and well-being with confidence.

Please note that Marsh Risk (Thailand) Company Limited and Marsh are not engaged by nor involved in any manner with Bonus Ranch and its promotion, and has not placed any insurance for nor insured any of its businesses or operations. Marsh as a licensed insurance broker will not request customers to make payment via non-standard methods, such as the transfer of money to any individual’s bank account.