COLUMBUS, Ga., May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Small businesses
are the backbone of America, representing more than 90 percent of
businesses today,[1] and now they can also claim to be some of the
happiest places to work. According to the 2017 Aflac Small
Business Happiness Report released today by Aflac, the leader in
voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the United States, insurance benefits remain a
key area for improvement. The report, in its second year, unveils a
number of findings about what it's like to work for a small
business and identifies several factors related to employee
satisfaction and happiness. It is designed to serve as a resource
for small-business owners looking for insight to better support
their employees and keep them happy.
"At Aflac, we understand that employees are the most valued
asset to any small business, but many small-business owners juggle
numerous responsibilities and struggle to find the information they
need to create a strong, loyal team," said Matthew Owenby, Aflac senior vice president and
chief human resources officer. "And while our report shows that
small-business owners can breathe a sigh of relief because their
employees are happy, it also sheds light on areas of opportunity
for employers looking to build upon that success, including
improving their benefits offerings."
Small-business employees are among the happiest
The
2017 Aflac Small Business Happiness Report found that 84 percent of
small-business employees are happy in their current job and nearly
half (48 percent) agree that most, or all, of their happiness in
their current job is actually because they work for a small
business.
While the flashy perks offered by many large companies are
enticing, working for a small business offers its own advantages —
which can often be more lasting and influential to employee career
development. Factors such as seeing the fruits of their labor,
feeling that their input truly matters and being rewarded for their
hard work were all cited by respondents as the best parts of
working for a small business. Additionally, compared to working at
a large company, employees indicate that small businesses make them
feel more appreciated (67 percent), accomplished (54 percent),
productive (55 percent) and motivated (52 percent).
Benefits still missing the mark for many small-business
employees
Although small businesses are fostering happy
workplaces, 72 percent of respondents indicate that an improvement
in their benefits offerings would make them even happier. The
report also generated 22 percent of respondents that say their
benefits offerings is one thing they like least about working for a
small business.
More than one-quarter (26 percent) of respondents said that
benefits offerings would be their main reason for switching over to
a large company.
"While adding benefits may seem out of reach for some
small-business owners, it could mean the difference between losing
and retaining talented employees," Owenby said. "Offering a more
comprehensive benefits package that includes supplemental insurance
options would enable companies to provide a more robust benefits
package at little or no impact to the bottom line."
To learn more about the 2017 Aflac Small Business Happiness
Report, visit aflac.com/happy.
About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt,
Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For six decades, Aflac insurance
policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on
recovery, not financial stress. In the
United States, Aflac is the leader in voluntary insurance
sales at the worksite. Through its trailblazing One Day
PaySM initiative, Aflac U.S. can receive, process,
approve and disburse payment for eligible claims in one business
day. In Japan, Aflac is the
leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and insures 1 in 4
households. Aflac insurance products help provide protection to
more than 50 million people worldwide. For 11 consecutive years,
Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most
Ethical Companies. In 2017, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as
one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for the 19th
consecutive year and in 2017 included Aflac on its list of Most
Admired Companies for the 16th time. In 2015, Aflac's contact
centers were recognized by J.D. Power by providing "An Outstanding
Customer Service Experience" for the Live Phone Channel. Aflac
Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One
Day PaySM, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.
Media contact – Kristen
Fraser, 706.243.5543 or mediarelations@aflac.com
Analyst and investor contact – David A. Young, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667,
FAX 706.324.6330, or dyoung@aflac.com
Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of
Columbus and American Family Life
Assurance Company of New York.
[1] U.S. Small Business Administration, "United States Small
Business Economic Profile," accessed on March 23, 2017 -
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/United_States.pdf
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SOURCE Aflac