In the midst of on-going government cuts, there is inevitably fear amongst the general public that should they fall ill, they could not rely on the state to provide them with adequate financial support. This has subsequently led to many looking to their employers to provide that reassurance that they need at a time of vulnerability.

The majority of British workers are not familiar with what the government will provide in the event that they become unable to work because of illness, a recent survey from insurance provider Zurich shows.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which is a state benefit offered to all citizens who are unable to work, regardless of their employment status, was introduced in 2008 but many people are still in the dark about it. The poll reveals that 38% of the respondents were not aware of how long they are allowed to claim ESA benefits. In fact, just 16% of those polled managed to give the correct answer - between nine and 12 months. More than one in five thought that they had the right to claim ESA benefits for between four and six months, whereas 8% believed they were entitled to benefits for a period longer than two years, Zurich notes in a report that is due to be released in full later this month.

Commenting on the findings, Nick Homer, Zurich UK Life’s protection manager, said in a statement that although it was notable that people have changed their expectations and now expect benefits for longer periods, the amount of confusion regarding ESA benefits is still great. This suggests that the industry should do more to encourage people to take responsibility for their own financial planning and also raise awareness of the options people have to make provisions for themselves and their families, he added.

Employers have an opportunity in circumstances like these to demonstrate the value in the employee benefits schemes they provide for their employees. It must be recognised however that communication is the key in order to generate awareness and recognition of an employer’s investment in its staff.