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02-Oct-08 11:30 [Research]
Mercer: Employee health costs rise The costs for employee healthcare are rising across Europe, according to the most recent report by research company Mercer.
After surveying nearly 800 companies across 24 countries in the continent, it was understood that the cost of providing healthcare had risen by an average of five per cent for each employee, with 51 per cent of companies reporting cost increases during 2007.
Principal at Mercer Steve Clements said that many respondents had improved offers to employees as they found it to be one of the main deal-breakers with top-performing members.
He added that many companies were hoping to maintain the balance "between the increasing costs and the belief that this benefit not only attracts good staff but provides a return on investment over the longer term".
Mr Clements continued: "A healthy workforce is, after all, a more productive workforce."
Earlier in the year, Mercer reported that many company health schemes may need to change in a similar way to pension scheme restructuring due to medical inflation.
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