UK businesses more inclined to protect office equipment than their own staff
Business protection is designed to help safeguard a business against the effects of losing key staff, partners in a partnership or shareholders through death, terminal or critical illness.
The fact is many small and medium-sized businesses rely on certain key people. Without these key persons the business could suffer serious financial loss, from losing a sales manager whose relationships ensure the new business goals remain on target to the designer responsible for new products.
UK businesses remain worryingly passive
Recent research from Scottish Widows has revealed that UK businesses remain worryingly passive when it comes to protecting one of their key assets – their employees. This is despite over three-quarters (77 per cent) admitting that they can identify at least one individual whose loss through death or critical illness would have a serious impact on the profitability or future survival of the business.
77 per cent of businesses say they have a key employee whose loss would seriously impact the profitability or future survival of the business and yet only 13 per cent of these businesses have protection in place to mitigate this risk
Over a quarter of UK businesses
(27 per cent) choose to protect against the breakdown of office equipment, compared to just 10 per cent who have protection against the loss of a key member of staff due to their death or critical illness
Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of business owners have invested their own money into the business in the last
12 months
Businesses are reluctant to protect themselves
The Scottish Widows Business Protection Report, which details research carried out with over 500 UK business decision makers, shows that the majority of businesses are still reluctant to protect themselves from the unexpected happening to a business owner or key member of staff.
Just 13 per cent of businesses who have identified the importance of a key person hold insurance that would protect the business against their loss and despite such a low take up of business protection, 60 per cent of businesses admit that they would definitely not survive the loss of a key person.
Future survival of the business
In fact, it is more likely that UK businesses will insure office equipment, such as the photocopier, against breakdown than they are to insure a key individual whose skill sets are vital to the future survival of the business. The research shows that over a quarter (27 per cent) of businesses have insurance for office equipment in place, compared to just 6 per cent with financial protection if a key person dies and 4 per cent with protection if a key person suffers a critical illness.
A better protected business population
A logical conclusion as to why the take up of Business Protection is so low is down to a lack of knowledge and understanding of the benefits – with 38 per cent of businesses not taking out cover as they don’t see its’ value, 16 per cent saying they hadn’t even thought about taking it out and 17 per cent saying they thought it would be too expensive. This highlights the value of sound professional financial advice which could potentially ensure a better informed and better protected business population.
Unfortunately, despite the majority of businesses openly acknowledging that the loss of a key person would have a severe, if not fatal impact on their future survival, just 29 per cent have actually sought any form of advice on business protection.
Personal assets at risk
In addition, the research highlights that in the last 12 months almost a quarter (27 per cent) of business owners have invested their own money into their business, while a further 13 per cent expect that they will have to in the future. If people are to put personal assets at risk then it is vital that they take the necessary steps to prevent a damaging impact not just on their business, but potentially their families and personal lives.
Iain McGowan, Head of Savings and Protection at Scottish Widows commented: “There are many reasons for business owners failing to take action. In some cases, this represents a failure to plan properly or a lack of understanding of the benefits of business protection. Perhaps even a refusal to contemplate the death or critical illness of a colleague. However the potential consequences to the business, demonstrate the importance of protecting arguably the one thing that can ensure its future survival; its employees.”
If you’re a business owner it’s crucial that you safeguard your business against the loss of a key employee. To discuss your protection planning needs, please contact us.
