July 22, 2008
By Dan McKeever
Employee Benefits News
More than one-fourth of the working population needed legal advice during the past year, according to a new study by work/life services provider Workplace Options.
Because these legal issues tend to cause employees to miss work, more companies are offering employees legal assistance benefits through work-life providers or employee assistance programs. The number of large companies offering group legal plans rose to 33% in 2007, a 6% increase from 2006, according to the study.
When faced with issues such as bankruptcy, foreclosure, divorce and estate planning, employees might have difficulty gaining access to the services of a lawyer. "Many employees faced with a legal problem do not seek professional assistance because they are apprehensive about the expense and their ability to identify a capable attorney," says Dean Debnam, chief executive officer for WPO.
Facilitating employees' access to prepaid legal consulting can reduce anxieties and time away from work, according to WPO. The WPO survey found that more than half of respondents feel that it is important for companies to offer group legal plans to employees and would use them if they were offered.
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