The ROI of Voluntary Benefits A Strategic Imperative for Brokers
ArticleJanuary 16, 2026
As a broker, you play a central role in helping employers design benefits strategies that balance cost control with employee value. Voluntary benefits offer a powerful way to achieve that balance. When implemented effectively, they can boost financial results, improve teamwork and operations, and help you build stronger client relationships.
Why Voluntary Benefits Matter Now
Today’s employers face rising benefit costs, a competitive job market, and evolving employee expectations. Voluntary benefits offer a practical solution. Employees select extra coverage that fits their needs and pay some or all the premium themselves, keeping company costs in check.
These programs are flexible and scalable, adapting as your workforce or budget changes. A comprehensive benefits package remains a key reason people join and stay with a company. Research from Gallup shows that pay and benefits are top factors in job changes, with flexibility and wellbeing close behind. 1 Voluntary benefits help employers address these priorities and make it easier to attract and retain great people.
Voluntary benefits also help employers add value to employees while controlling costs.
- Budget control: Employees typically fund these plans, helping employers manage expenses.
- Great value: More choices make employees feel supported and satisfied.
- Broad protection: Options like accident, hospital, and critical illness coverage offer financial reassurance for unexpected events.
A recent survey found that nearly one-third of employers plan to expand their voluntary benefit offerings by 2027, highlighting the growing importance of these benefits in today’s packages. In fact, over two-thirds (70%) of employers say their primary reason for offering voluntary benefits is to ensure their benefits package is comprehensive.2
Voluntary Benefits in Action
Consider an employer looking to enhance their benefits portfolio without increasing fixed costs. By choosing Zurich’s Employee Benefit Solutions, your clients can offer their workforce a range of voluntary benefits, such as accident medical expense, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage. These options help employees manage unexpected healthcare costs and reduce out-of-pocket expenses, providing valuable financial support during challenging times. All coverage reflects Zurich’s trusted reputation for reliability and care.
When a covered event occurs, employees receive benefits directly. This flexibility allows them to use the funds for any expense, helping to reduce stress and support their needs during challenging times.
The employer strengthens their total rewards package while maintaining cost predictability. Employees appreciate additional financial protection and reassurance.
In a marketplace where many carriers offer voluntary benefits and turnkey service, Zurich stands out by providing:
- A+ financial strength and credibility3
- Highly flexible plan designs across multiple product lines
- Solutions adaptable for brokers, strategic relationships and their downline teams
- Hands-on support and data-driven insights to help clients achieve measurable results
Work with Zurich
As a broker, you guide employers through an increasingly complex benefits environment. Zurich helps you deliver tailored, flexible voluntary benefit solutions that address client needs and add real value across organizations.
Contact us to discover how Zurich can support your business and help you build lasting relationships with your clients.
Employee Benefit Solutions | Zurich Insurance
Sources:
22025 US Workforce Trends Report: Benefits Benchmarks | AJG United States, 2025
3 Rating as of November 17, 2025. A.M. Best’s Ratings are under continuous review and subject to change and/or affirmation. For the latest Best’s Ratings and Best’s Company Reports (which include Best’s Ratings), visit the A.M. Best website at www.ambest.com. The rating represents the overall financial status of the individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company, and is not a recommendation of the specific policy provisions, rates or practices of each issuing insurance company.