A new survey has revealed that paid long-term sick leave is the health-related employee benefit that workers value the most.
The study, conducted by Aon Consulting, discovered that finance and insurance-based benefits were preferred to those such as weight loss support, flu vaccination or counselling, Personnel Today reports.
Health benefit preferences also varied depending on age, as 80 per cent of those aged over 55 rated critical illness insurance as desirable and 77 per cent wanted health screening.
However, those under the age of 35 had a stronger preference for subsidised gym membership.
Alex Bennett, head of healthcare consulting at Aon, said that because many workers may be concerned about finances, "it is no surprise that rather than concentrate on staying healthy they focus on how they are going to manage in the event that they do become sick".
The European Court of Justice has recently ruled that workers on long-term sick leave are now entitled to take any holidays they have accrued.
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