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Better benefits for your people.
Smarter solutions for your business.
Providing meaningful employee benefits is an important part of supporting your workforce.
But choosing the right arrangements, managing costs, and keeping up with administration can be challenging. At Garden Route Life & Investment Brokers (GRLI), we help employers understand, establish and review employee benefit arrangements through specialist financial advice.
Whether you’re introducing benefits, reviewing an existing pension or provident fund, assessing group risk cover or looking for improved scheme support, our Employee Benefits specialists can help you evaluate your options. Our goal is to help you develop benefit arrangements that balance your employees’ needs with your business’s financial and operational priorities.
Which employee benefits should a growing business consider?
The most suitable employee benefits depend on your workforce, business budget and long-term objectives. Common options include pension or provident fund arrangements, group life cover, disability benefits and income protection. Healthcare benefits may also be relevant. An employee benefits specialist can help you understand the available options and assess which arrangements may be appropriate for your business and employees.
Are Your Employee Benefits Still Delivering Value?
Employee benefits can play an important role in attracting and retaining staff, providing financial protection and supporting employees’ long-term financial wellbeing.
However, managing these arrangements can become increasingly complex as your business grows.
You may be dealing with rising contribution costs, employee questions, changing workforce needs or an existing scheme that hasn’t been reviewed for some time.
Common challenges include:
- Finding employee benefits that balance affordability with meaningful cover.
- Understanding the differences between pension funds, provident funds and group risk benefits.
- Managing increasing scheme costs and administration.
- Ensuring employees understand the benefits available to them.
- Reviewing an existing provider’s service and performance.
- Assessing whether current benefits remain suitable as your workforce changes.
The right employee benefits approach should consider more than the cost of a scheme.
It should also consider the needs of your employees, the protection being provided, the administrative responsibilities involved and the long-term suitability of the arrangements.
Specialist advice can help you make more informed decisions.
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What Would You Like Help With?
Introduce Employee Benefits to Your Business
Looking to provide employee benefits for the first time?
Introducing a structured employee benefits programme can feel complicated, particularly when you need to balance staff needs, business costs and administrative requirements.
Specialist advice can help you evaluate the different types of benefits available and consider which arrangements may be appropriate for your workforce.
Plan for Your Employees’ Retirement
Are your employees receiving suitable retirement savings benefits?
Pension and provident fund arrangements can help employees work towards their long-term financial goals.
When reviewing company retirement benefits, employers should consider contribution structures, costs, fund rules, employee participation and administrative requirements.
A specialist review can help you understand the available arrangements and their suitability for your business.
Protect Employees With Group Risk Benefits
Would your employees and their families be financially prepared for an unexpected event?
Group life and disability benefits can provide financial protection in qualifying circumstances, subject to the relevant scheme and policy terms.
The appropriate level of cover depends on your workforce, business objectives, contribution arrangements and the benefits already in place.
Review Your Existing Employee Benefits Scheme
Are you confident your current scheme is still competitive and appropriate?
Employee benefits arrangements should be reviewed periodically to assess costs, benefit structures, provider service and suitability for your workforce.
An independent scheme review can help identify potential gaps, compare relevant options and assess whether your current arrangements continue to meet your organisation’s needs.
A review does not automatically mean changing providers.
Explore Healthcare Benefits for Employees
Need help with medical aid or healthcare arrangements for your workforce?
Employer healthcare arrangements can involve medical aid options, contribution structures, employee education and ongoing administration.
Our specialist healthcare associates, Garden Route Health Care Consultants (GRHC), can assist employers with understanding available medical aid solutions and reviewing relevant healthcare arrangements.
Review Your Own Financial Planning as a Business Owner
Are your personal financial plans keeping pace with your business?
As an employer, your own financial priorities may include personal investments, business risk protection, succession planning and retirement.
GRLI also provides specialist financial planning for business owners, helping connect personal financial needs with wider business considerations.
How Can an Employee Benefits Scheme Review Help Your Business?
Step 1 – Understand Your Organisation
Discuss your workforce, existing benefit arrangements, business objectives and any concerns about your current scheme.
Step 2 – Review Existing Benefits
Assess relevant retirement and group risk benefits, contribution structures, costs and administrative arrangements.
Step 3 – Consider Available Options
Identify matters requiring attention and discuss relevant options, including whether adjustments or alternative arrangements may be appropriate.
Step 4 – Agree on the Next Steps
Review the findings with your specialist adviser and decide whether to maintain, adjust or investigate changes to your existing arrangements.
A scheme review does not mean you have to change providers. It provides an opportunity to understand your existing position and make informed decisions.
Employee Benefits Are More Than a Pension Fund
A well-considered employee benefits arrangement may bring together retirement savings, financial protection and ongoing scheme support.
GRLI’s specialist Employee Benefits offering helps employers review these needs and consider appropriate solutions.
Retirement Benefits
Explore pension and provident fund arrangements that help employees save towards retirement.
Group Life & Risk Cover
Consider financial protection for employees and their dependants in the event of death or qualifying disability.
Disability & Income Protection
Review available benefit arrangements that may provide financial support when an employee cannot work due to an eligible illness or disability.
Scheme Reviews & Administration
Assess existing arrangements, costs, provider service and administrative processes to determine whether improvements may be appropriate.
FAQs About Employee Benefits for Employers
When Should Your Business Review Its Employee Benefits?
Your workforce and business priorities can change significantly over time. An employee benefits review may be particularly useful when you:
- Experience significant business or employee growth.
- Introduce benefits for the first time.
- Notice increasing retirement fund or group risk costs.
- Receive complaints about benefits or administrative service.
- Change payroll systems or business structures.
- Approach a scheme renewal or provider review.
- Want to improve employee understanding of existing benefits.
- Need to reassess affordability or the balance of benefits offered.
A review can help establish whether your existing arrangements remain suitable and identify opportunities for further consideration.
When should a company review its pension fund or group risk scheme?
Employers should consider reviewing their employee benefits periodically and when workforce needs, business circumstances or costs change significantly. A review may also be appropriate ahead of scheme renewals or when employees experience ongoing service difficulties. It can assess benefit suitability, costs, contribution structures, provider performance and administration to determine whether adjustments should be considered.
Can we review our employee benefits without changing providers?
Yes. An employee benefits review can assess your existing arrangements without requiring an immediate change of provider. It may examine costs, benefit structures, administration and suitability for your workforce. The findings can help identify whether your current arrangements remain appropriate or whether adjustments or alternative providers warrant consideration. Any changes should follow a suitable advice and decision-making process.
What is the difference between pension funds and provident funds for employees?
Both pension funds and provident funds are retirement savings arrangements designed to help employees build capital for retirement. They may differ in their rules, benefit structures and historical arrangements. In South Africa, retirement fund legislation, including the two-pot retirement system, also affects how certain contributions and withdrawals are treated. Employers should obtain advice based on the specific fund and current regulations.
How does group life and disability cover benefit employees?
Group life cover generally provides an insured benefit following an eligible employee’s death, while disability benefits may provide financial support when an employee meets specified disability conditions. The amount and nature of the benefits depend on the scheme and policy terms. These arrangements can form part of a broader employee benefits programme and offer financial protection to eligible employees and dependants.
How can employers reduce employee benefits administration and improve service?
Employers can begin by reviewing their current administration processes, reporting, employee communication and provider service arrangements. An employee benefits specialist can help identify areas of unnecessary complexity, clarify responsibilities and consider relevant improvements. Better communication and clearer administrative processes may make benefits easier for employees to understand while helping HR and payroll teams manage their responsibilities.
Request a Call Back
Would you like to speak to one of our specialized brokers over the phone? Just submit your details and we’ll be in touch shortly. You can also email us if you would prefer.
For Employers: Do you have questions about how Employee Benefits can help your company? Send us an email and we’ll get in touch shortly, or phone 044 874 5497 between 08:30 and 16:30 Monday to Thursday and 08:30 and 16:00 on Fridays – we would be delighted to speak to you.