Employers could find it easier to attract workers to meet the skills shortage in many industries if they added health benefits to employment packages, according to Health Funds Association executive director Roger Styles.
A report last week by accountancy and business advisory firm Grant Thornton showed New Zealandfirms attached a low importance to provision of employee benefits, when compared to other countries. This was despite studies showing healthy workers took fewer days off, were less affected by workplace stress, and stayed in their jobs longer.
Styles said today that in the current tight labour market, potential employees were more likely to consider taking jobs which offered benefits such as health insurance as part of their employment package. They were also more likely to stay in those jobs longer, and retain their insurance when they were older and more likely to need it.
In New Zealand $275 million is spent annually on group health insurance schemes, providing coverage for around 620,000 people.
A 2005 Southern Cross Healthcare study found an insured worker with an illness requiring surgery took an average 14 days off work because of the illness compared to 48 days off work for those without health insurance due to waiting times.
