EZBenefits offers small businesses competitive and easy-to-manage health benefits plans
In an article by Benefits and Pension Monitor, produced in partnership with Equitable, small businesses are described as the backbone of the Canadian economy.
These small businesses are employing over 10 million Canadians, according to a recent Statistics Canada survey.
However, running a small business comes with challenges, including attracting and retaining top talent. Competitive health benefits are increasingly important for small businesses to remain competitive.
“A health benefits plan is becoming a must-have for smaller companies that want to compete for the best people,” says Marc Avaria, executive vice president, Group Insurance at Equitable.
He highlights that small businesses compete with larger organizations with bigger budgets and more resources, necessitating an affordable, sustainable, and easy-to-manage benefits solution.
Equitable recently introduced Equitable EZBenefits, a benefits solution designed specifically for small businesses with 2 to 25 employees. This plan allows small employers to offer competitive benefits affordably.
“We created EZBenefits to provide a benefits solution that’s affordable and easy,” Avaria says. “Easy to understand, easy to implement and administer, and easy to use.”
EZBenefits offers various plan designs to match different needs and budgets, including Life, Health, and Dental coverage. Employers can also add Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage or a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA).
Additional health and wellness services are included at no extra cost. Employees have access to Virtual Healthcare from Dialogue and an Employee and Family Assistance Program provided by Homewood Health.
Recognizing that small businesses often lack in-house HR departments, EZBenefits includes built-in HR support tools and services through Equitable’s partnership with HRdownloads.
Employers receive access to a human resource information system, a library of over 3,000 HR documents and templates, a free Workplace Diversity and Inclusion online training course, and a free HR advice call with an expert.
“We wanted to help take the heavy lifting out of common human resources tasks and provide small businesses with extra HR advice and support,” says Don Bisch, director, Group Marketing at Equitable. “That’s why we embedded HR client support and health and wellness services in each plan design.”
