Ten Reasons Why Telehealth Should Be Your Business’s Next Employee Benefit
Picture this: It’s a frosty winter morning, and one of your employees wakes up with a scratchy throat and a pounding headache. The idea of sitting in a doctor’s office surrounded by other sick people feels unbearable - not to mention the hassle of taking time off, commuting, and waiting forever to be seen
Now imagine this same employee logging onto their laptop, hopping on a quick video call with a doctor, and getting a prescription sent to their pharmacy - all before they’ve even finished their morning coffee. That’s the power of telehealth, and it’s quickly becoming a must-have workplace benefit.
What Exactly is Employer - Offered Telehealth?
If you’re new to the concept, telehealth is like having a virtual doctor in your back pocket. It allows employees to consult medical professionals through phone or video chat, making healthcare more accessible and convenient than ever.
When companies include telehealth in their benefits packages, they’re essentially giving employees a shortcut to care. Think of it as a modern-day solution to an age-old problem: how to balance health and productivity without adding stress to either side.
Why Telehealth is a Winter Essential?
As the days get colder and flu season kicks into high gear, telehealth becomes even more valuable. For employees, it’s about getting care without unnecessary exposure or wasted time. For businesses, it’s about keeping the team healthy and the work flowing.
Here are ten reasons why telehealth is a winter hero:
1. Keep Employees Healthy Without Leaving Home
With telehealth, employees can consult with doctors from the comfort of their homes, avoiding long waits and exposure to other illnesses at a clinic. This convenience is a game-changer, especially during flu season when trips to the doctor can feel daunting. Employees can prioritize their health without disrupting their work-life balance.
2. Reduce Sick Days and Absenteeism
Faster access to care means employees recover sooner, reducing the time they spend out of the office and keeping operations running smoothly. Telehealth services often allow same-day appointments, meaning employees can address issues before they worsen and require extended absences
3. Boost Productivity
Healthy employees are productive employees. Telehealth helps them stay on top of their health without the hassle of missed work or long commutes to appointments. Plus, the quick resolution of minor health issues ensures employees can focus on their tasks instead of worrying about lingering symptoms.
4. Cut Down on Healthcare Costs
Virtual visits are more cost-effective than in-person consultations, saving both employees and employers money. When employees avoid unnecessary ER or urgent care visits, the savings add up significantly, creating a win-win scenario for everyone involved.
5. Simplify Access to Prescriptions
Telehealth providers can prescribe medications online or over the phone, making it easier for employees to get what they need without an extra trip to the pharmacy. This quick access means employees can begin treatment faster, leading to better outcomes and less downtime.
6. Support Employee Mental Health
Many telehealth services include mental health resources, giving employees easy access to counseling and therapy - an invaluable benefit in today’s workplace. With stress and burnout on the rise, having access to these services can make all the difference in helping employees feel supported and valued.
7. Avoid Winter Illness Spreading Through the Office
Colder months bring an increase in flu and colds. Telehealth lets employees get care without bringing germs into the workplace. This means fewer outbreaks, which helps maintain a healthier and more functional work environment all season long.
8. Create a Competitive Edge
Offering telehealth demonstrates a company is forward-thinking and cares about employee well-being, making it a more attractive employer in a competitive job market. Potential employees are looking for benefits that demonstrate genuine care, and telehealth is a perk that makes a company stand out.
9. Affordable and Easy to Implement
Telehealth is surprisingly cost-effective and simple to integrate into an existing benefits package - especially with the help of Alloy Employment Services. By bundling telehealth with other services, Alloy ensures a seamless solution that’s tailored to any company’s needs.
10. Big Companies Are Already Doing It
Companies like Amazon, Google, and Walmart have been integrating telehealth into their employee benefits, they are setting the standard for workplace healthcare in 2025 and beyond. These industry giants are embracing telehealth to provide accessible, cost-effective, and convenient care for their employees. Here’s how some of them are doing it:
Amazon:
Amazon offers extensive telehealth benefits through its employee health services. Full-time employees have access to virtual medical consultations, addressing physical and mental health needs. Additionally, Amazon Care, launched in 2019, combines virtual care with in-person follow-ups. Employees can connect with medical professionals 24/7 through an app for minor illnesses or ongoing care, making healthcare accessible for remote or frontline workers.
Google:
Google provides telehealth services to employees via virtual healthcare partnerships and its own healthcare initiative, Google Health. Employees can consult with doctors and mental health professionals online. These services are integrated into Google's broader benefits, which include wellness tools and resources for preventative care.
Walmart:
Walmart has incorporated telehealth as part of its healthcare strategy, emphasizing affordability and accessibility. Employees and their families can use telehealth services through Walmart’s partnerships with providers like MeMD and other platforms. The company aims to reduce costs and improve access for workers across its large retail network.
You Can Make Telehealth Work for Your Business Too
At Alloy Employment Services, we understand that managing employee benefits can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve made wellness one of our key offerings.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Affordable Plans: We work with employees to offer a custom HR solution based on their employees needs.
- Streamlined Integration: We’ll help you implement it seamlessly into your existing benefits package.
- Proven Results: Companies that adopt health and wellness into their HR strategy see higher employee satisfaction and fewer disruptions.
Ready to Get Started?
Don’t wait for the next flu season to disrupt your team. Alloy is working with a number of organizations to ensure health and safety of their employees across a range of services including injury prevention and more general wellness. Our new partnership with Oaceus aims to bring an enhanced wellness experience to our clients. Learn more about it here.
