Workplace wellness plans continue to be a trending benefit. In businesses of all sizes, active commute groups, on-site dieticians, fitness classes and healthy snack options are emerging.

But what may be missing from these wellness programs? What about benefits that not only address the physical health of the employee – but ones that address the financial and emotional side as well?

Few events in life are more stressful than legal ones. And, studies have shown that employees cannot be physically healthy if they are not mentally healthy. The stress that comes from an unexpected legal situation – like a divorce or bankruptcy – can eat away at mental health like few other events.

Incorporating a legal insurance plan into workplace wellness programs serves mental and financial wellness needs in much the same way fitness classes aim to address the physical health. Offering employees professional legal advice to help them assert their legal rights provides a more comprehensive wellness program.

A truly comprehensive wellness plan will address the whole person – letting them focus on their job, rather than their stressors. 

What exactly is legal insurance?

Everyone encounters legal issues in life, but at $347 an hour for legal services, based on “The 43^rd Annual Survey of Law Firm Economics: 2015 Edition, not everyone has the means to deal with them. So what bridges the gap between professional legal advice and an inability to pay for it? That’s where legal insurance comes in.

Think of legal insurance much like health insurance. In exchange for a low monthly premium – usually around $20 a month – legal plan members can have access to a nationwide network of attorneys, who can:

• Advise and consult on legal issues

• Review or prepare documents

• Make follow-up calls or write letters

• Represent you, if needed

In addition to the attorney services, legal plans can also offer the ability to create customizable legal documents and access to online educational tools and resources.

How does it work?

If an employee is buying a house, adopting a child, dealing with a contractor dispute, he or she can enlist the services of an attorney in the legal plan network. With a legal insurance plan, employees are connected to a strong network of attorneys to help them with legal issues, big or small. From document reviews to face-to-face consultations, they can find help at a time they need it most. In return, employers are assured that their employees are not stressed or distracted by legal issues and able to work at their productive peak.