Surrey County Council has moved its voluntary benefits scheme online.
The scheme, which is managed in-house and accessed via the council’s external website, previously offered benefits through a booklet format.
The change was made to drive down distribution and printing costs, and increase accessibility. The 25,000 eligible staff can now view and select benefits from any computer anytime, whether they are at work or at home.
Benefits available through the scheme include: holiday trading, private medical insurance, dental insurance, travel insurance, personal accident insurance, childcare vouchers, a health cash plan and health assessments.
Oonagh Dixon, employee services senior specialist at Surrey County Council, said: “Many of the benefits have moved from annual to anytime enrolment, allowing staff more flexibility so they can apply for their travel insurance or retail card whenever they wish.”
The council has also outsourced its health club administration to public sector voluntary benefits provider Kaarp Benefits. Dixon added: “Staff can now apply for a health club membership anytime during the year and receive competitive discounted rates.”
Since the online system launched in November 2010, there has been an increased take up of retail and childcare vouchers.
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