EXCLUSIVE: Three-quarters (75%) of employers are now offering employees access to their benefits online, according to research by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare.
The research, which surveyed 500 HR decision makers and heads of businesses, also found that 44% of respondents administer all benefits online, with a further third (32%) hosting some benefits this way.
Efficiency and time saving are seen as plus points for more than half (52%) of respondents, while a further 53% say ease of use is an advantage.
Almost two-fifths (37%) of respondents find providing online access to benefits to be an effective way to control costs and help to manage budgets, while three in ten (30%) consider it to be a helpful way to communicate benefits offerings easily.
When it comes to environmental issues, hosting benefit information online was also looked at positively, with 35% appreciating the paperless aspect of virtual hosting.
Jim Lythgow (pictured), director of strategic alliances at Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, said: "Healthcare and health-related benefits are frequently cited as the most popular employee benefits among staff. Eye care is an integral part of this. The fact that [employers] are now able to manage so many of these benefits online is an important step forward.
"The easier and more cost effective benefit administration becomes, the more likely it is to be offered. For health-related benefits, this is of course good news for employees, but also for their employers who will also be likely to profit from the improved health and wellbeing of their workforce."
