Putting your people first: Why tailored employee benefits in SMEs matter
Amid talent shortages, rising healthcare costs, and growing employee expectations, Marsh’s Health on Demand 2025 report reveals that employees at smaller organizations are less likely than those at larger organizations to say their benefits needs are met.
The gap is more pronounced at organizations with fewer than 50 employees: Only 42% of employees say their benefits meet their needs, compared with 60%–68% at larger organizations.
Perception that comprehensive medical benefits are usually only available to large organizations
SME employees also report that their benefits fall short compared to other organizations in their industry. At the smallest companies, only one third of employees believe their benefits compare well.
Employees who feel their employer cares about their health and well-being
Tailoring benefits to help SMEs attract and retain talent
How can Marsh help SMEs provide inclusive and cost-effective employee benefits?
Marsh offers employee benefits solutions for businesses with as few as two employees, including:
- Fixed-rate or capped-rate-increase contracts for multiple years, regardless of inflation and claims performance.
- Access to a comprehensive range of employee benefits (usually available to large organizations) through our global network and partnerships.
- Digitised benefits administration for greater convenience.
- Proprietary benchmarking data on benefits and discounts on health and wellness solutions, through our exclusive Benefits Club.
In today’s environment of rising expectations, escalating healthcare costs and ongoing talent shortages, SMEs can no longer adopt a one-size-fits-all benefits strategy. In an increasingly competitive talent market, offering tailored and flexible benefits can help SMEs demonstrate care, strengthen loyalty and create a meaningful employee value proposition.