2011 could see costs in healthcare increase due to budget restructuring in the NHS by the coalition government. This is expected to have an huge impact on the whole healthcare sector.
Employers face extra costs including increased corporate health insurance premium rates, an increase in tax and a National Insurance cost increase.
Businesses will need to either stump up the extra costs or find new ways to help make costs more manageable. They could either switch to a healthcare provider that offers them a more affordable deal or offer a different premium to employees that may offer less benefits but might allow them to contribute to if any added benefits are needed.
Friday, 14 January 2011
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Problems in Health Reform
A leading British Newspapers has recently flagged up that there may be serious consequences of the current coalition Government's proposed Health reforms. The article states that respected voices across various fields including healthcare, economics, management and even Conservative Party politics have stated this may cause a "train crash" in the NHS as it will impossible to keep up the level of service with the proposed level of funding.
This is possibly bad news for many small businesses, both in terms of their staff and in terms of their overheads as they will have to consider that it may become a necessity to look into employee medical insurance for the whole firm. This may instantly drive overhead up but surely it will have its benefits in the future. The simple fact is that with so many government cutbacks in the pipeline, a de facto Americanisation of the British healthcare system seems to be the only possible result.
Of course the failings of the NHS are no new thing, and private healthcare for many businesses could certainly be a far better option, the thing here is that the Government seems to be driving towards there being no choice in the matter. Some people would like to think that there could still be some choices left in Britain.
This is possibly bad news for many small businesses, both in terms of their staff and in terms of their overheads as they will have to consider that it may become a necessity to look into employee medical insurance for the whole firm. This may instantly drive overhead up but surely it will have its benefits in the future. The simple fact is that with so many government cutbacks in the pipeline, a de facto Americanisation of the British healthcare system seems to be the only possible result.
Of course the failings of the NHS are no new thing, and private healthcare for many businesses could certainly be a far better option, the thing here is that the Government seems to be driving towards there being no choice in the matter. Some people would like to think that there could still be some choices left in Britain.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Small Business and the Winter
If ever there was a case for modernising your business model then it is this winter. Here I am as I write about twentyfive miles away from where I am supposed to be and all because it snowed heavily last night. Well, to be honest it has been snowing for the last couple of nights, but I had expected the people in charge to have done something about it over the weekend.
I, though am obviously some kind of optimist, for after getting up at some strange hour this morning, I did as always do and headed off to the train station at about seven, only to find there seemed to be no trains but the staff were locked out of the station because the chap with the keys could make it to the station. After a while it was stated that there would be no trains so I webt home.
Luckily, I can still work to a certain degree of competence at home so here I am. but not all employers will allow this level of flexibility. And it is surely better to get some level of work from your employees when the elements have conspired against them. This is especially so with small companies, in fact the smaller the company the more important it becomes. After all every one employee is a larger percentage of the whole than in larger corporations, and this affects the business in proportion.
This is a problem that also affects small businesses with absences through illness both short term and long term. There is not much you can do about the short term last minute absences, but with longer term absences then at least there is an option, with some employee health insurance plans this gives you the ability to cover your staff shortages with part-timers until your regular employee comes back. This is a modern world and there are always ways to get around problems like these.
I, though am obviously some kind of optimist, for after getting up at some strange hour this morning, I did as always do and headed off to the train station at about seven, only to find there seemed to be no trains but the staff were locked out of the station because the chap with the keys could make it to the station. After a while it was stated that there would be no trains so I webt home.
Luckily, I can still work to a certain degree of competence at home so here I am. but not all employers will allow this level of flexibility. And it is surely better to get some level of work from your employees when the elements have conspired against them. This is especially so with small companies, in fact the smaller the company the more important it becomes. After all every one employee is a larger percentage of the whole than in larger corporations, and this affects the business in proportion.
This is a problem that also affects small businesses with absences through illness both short term and long term. There is not much you can do about the short term last minute absences, but with longer term absences then at least there is an option, with some employee health insurance plans this gives you the ability to cover your staff shortages with part-timers until your regular employee comes back. This is a modern world and there are always ways to get around problems like these.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
SME Web Presence to grow
Strangely enough of all the businesses in the UK about one and a half million of them have absolutely no presence on the world wide web, this is especially so in the case of Small Business, many of whom think that they are either too small or it is just an unnecessary expense when everything else is tight, so just forego it.
But this is surely a huge mistake for all those concerned, although it may cost a little to set up and you might need a somebody with the correct skill set to run the operation, the simple fact is that if you can run part [or all] of your organisation online, it will cut out many of the other cost that might be accrued.
But this, it seems is set to change, as companies like BT & Google have been getting together to allow companies to have their very own website for free, all care of Getting British Business Online, as long as the name you wish has not already been taken, then everything is in place to start right away, what are you waiting for?
But this is surely a huge mistake for all those concerned, although it may cost a little to set up and you might need a somebody with the correct skill set to run the operation, the simple fact is that if you can run part [or all] of your organisation online, it will cut out many of the other cost that might be accrued.
But this, it seems is set to change, as companies like BT & Google have been getting together to allow companies to have their very own website for free, all care of Getting British Business Online, as long as the name you wish has not already been taken, then everything is in place to start right away, what are you waiting for?
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Growth to Continue in Europe
Several large health insurance companies have stated that they are now looking toward Europe and not Asia for the next big growth in sales of business health insurance to take place. This comes as a bit of a surprise to many people given the relative economic climate in Europe, and the strength of so much of Asia backed by China & India.
However it has more to do with the political stability across the whole of Europe, and difficulties gain access to certain Asian markest which has led this change of emphasis. There is also a feeling in some places that the absolute worst of the financial 'stormy seas' have been sailed already and that Europe should be looking forward to a period of continued growth.
Whichever way it goes, the future seems to be looking good for health insurance companies in the western hemisphere, and the competition to offer competitive business insurance plans will be good for all those small companies who've made it through the recession.
However it has more to do with the political stability across the whole of Europe, and difficulties gain access to certain Asian markest which has led this change of emphasis. There is also a feeling in some places that the absolute worst of the financial 'stormy seas' have been sailed already and that Europe should be looking forward to a period of continued growth.
Whichever way it goes, the future seems to be looking good for health insurance companies in the western hemisphere, and the competition to offer competitive business insurance plans will be good for all those small companies who've made it through the recession.
Monday, 18 October 2010
Business Backs Osbourne
In a letter in today's Daily Telegraph, undersigned by many of the CEOs of the largest businesses in the UK, British business has come out in favour of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's impending cuts to spending in the public sector.
The impetus behind this backing is that the British economy is in a sound enough footing [the green shoots etc.] to take up the strain of any natural wastage caused by government savings. This is a very fine statement by these businessmen except for one point, and that is that they are all on the board of a very large businesses.
It has long been a fact that most of the job creation in the UK has been done at the hand of the nation's small businesses, not the large, and these have not been consulted in the formulation of the letter. It is not so easy as signing a letter when you have to run a smaller business, banks are not quite so willing to extend credit, cover month to month expences: business health insurance policies; salaries; rent; insurance.
Small to medium businesses must never be confused, they have widely differing challenges, and need much different skillsets in management, it is almost impossible for large business leaders to make this claim, Mr Osborne needs, instead, to listen to the world of small business.
The impetus behind this backing is that the British economy is in a sound enough footing [the green shoots etc.] to take up the strain of any natural wastage caused by government savings. This is a very fine statement by these businessmen except for one point, and that is that they are all on the board of a very large businesses.
It has long been a fact that most of the job creation in the UK has been done at the hand of the nation's small businesses, not the large, and these have not been consulted in the formulation of the letter. It is not so easy as signing a letter when you have to run a smaller business, banks are not quite so willing to extend credit, cover month to month expences: business health insurance policies; salaries; rent; insurance.
Small to medium businesses must never be confused, they have widely differing challenges, and need much different skillsets in management, it is almost impossible for large business leaders to make this claim, Mr Osborne needs, instead, to listen to the world of small business.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Conservative Party Conference 2010
This is the week of the conservative party's conference, this year being held in Birmingham at the ICC, this, of course, should be attracting the attention of businessmen all across the country. The Conservatives being the party most affiliated with business have often maintained that small businesses and entrepreneurs are the best way to give any economy the impetus that is needed to keep the country on a sound economic footing.
To this end it is important that the Conservative party reiterates it's support to the little people who were not to blame for the disastrous state of the economy, and give a little git of leeway for those who are trying to get the country back on the right tracks. To this end it may not be necessary to raise taxes across the board, and the possibility of some form of tax relief, perhaps on some of the benefits awarded to good staff such as small business health insurance or maternity leave.
To this end it is important that the Conservative party reiterates it's support to the little people who were not to blame for the disastrous state of the economy, and give a little git of leeway for those who are trying to get the country back on the right tracks. To this end it may not be necessary to raise taxes across the board, and the possibility of some form of tax relief, perhaps on some of the benefits awarded to good staff such as small business health insurance or maternity leave.
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