Benefits

Supplementary welfare schemes are offered by 46 per cent of Ligurian businesses

Survey commissioned by Generali Genova. 78 per cent of businesses expect to maintain or increase their dedicated investment over the next 3–5 years

by Raoul de Forcade

15 September 2026

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Carlo Tenderini durante una precedente edizione di Officina welfare

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The proportion of welfare expenditure is rising in small, medium and large enterprises
A strong focus on flexible working arrangements and fringe benefits
Tenderini: ‘There is a growing awareness of the value of these initiatives for wellbeing’

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In Liguria, almost one in two companies (46 per cent) has already introduced supplementary welfare schemes going beyond the provisions of national collective agreements; and 78 per cent plan to maintain or increase their investment in these schemes over the next 3–5 years. These are the findings of the 2026 edition of ‘Officina welfare’, a survey commissioned by the Generali Genova Piazza Dante agency, in collaboration with Generali Italia’s Health & Welfare business unit. The study will be presented today during a special event dedicated to dialogue between businesses, institutions and local stakeholders.

The survey, carried out in July (using the CAWI method), involved 316 Ligurian companies, an increase of approximately 23 per cent compared with the previous edition (when there were 256). 69 per cent of the sample are based in the province of Genoa, 16 per cent in Savona, 9 per cent in Imperia and 6 per cent in La Spezia. Micro and small enterprises accounted for a total of 76 per cent of the organisations surveyed; the sectors with the highest proportion of collective agreements were retail (32 per cent), metalworking (14 per cent), the service sector (12 per cent) and tourism (8 per cent).

The proportion of welfare expenditure is rising in small, medium and large enterprises

As mentioned, 46 per cent of the companies surveyed stated that they implement supplementary measures in addition to the national collective agreement. This figure rose to 57 per cent among small businesses (+5 per cent compared with the 2025 survey), to 83 per cent among medium-sized businesses (+17 per cent) and to 80 per cent among large businesses (+12 per cent); only micro-enterprises showed a stable trend (-1 per cent). Among the companies that have adopted welfare measures, 57 per cent state that they make these available to all employees, an increase of 1 per cent compared with 2025 and 7 per cent compared with the 2024 survey.

Improving employee satisfaction and the workplace atmosphere is cited as an objective by 45 per cent of companies that have implemented welfare initiatives, representing an 11 per cent increase compared with 2025. This is followed by increased productivity (44 per cent), a desire to reward employees (39 per cent) and strengthening the company’s reputation (27 per cent).

The most widely adopted initiatives are insurance policies (44 per cent), supplementary healthcare (37 per cent) and supplementary pensions (37 per cent). Medical and social care services have reached 30 per cent, more than doubling compared with 2025, whilst financial support for workers stands at 27 per cent (up 8 per cent on 2025).

A strong focus on flexible working and fringe benefits platforms

Flexible and fringe benefits platforms – that is, digital corporate welfare portals that enable companies to provide, and employees to manage, goods, services and reimbursements in addition to their salary – are emerging as the most attractive measure for the future: 40 per cent of companies say they intend to adopt them. Among the companies that responded to the specific question, 57 per cent already have benefit management platforms in place; overall, 29 per cent have made benefits accessible via online platforms or vouchers.

Looking ahead to the next 3–5 years, almost eight out of ten Ligurian businesses – 78 per cent – expect to maintain or increase the resources allocated to employee welfare. In particular, 49 per cent state that they intend to increase investment and resources, whilst 29 per cent intend to maintain them at current levels. Only 2 per cent expect a reduction. Finally, 45 per cent of micro and small businesses stated that they have at least a general understanding of the regulations and tax incentives relating to employee welfare.

Tenderini: ‘There is a growing awareness of the value of these initiatives for wellbeing’

“The results of the 2026 survey,” says Carlo Tenderini, head of Generali Italia’s Genoa office in Piazza Dante, “confirm that corporate welfare is playing an increasingly central role in the strategies of Ligurian businesses. Not only is the number of companies investing in these initiatives growing, but so too is the awareness of their value for people’s wellbeing, the quality of work and the competitiveness of organisations. Through ‘Officina welfare’, we want to continue promoting a forum for meaningful dialogue between businesses, institutions and the local community, helping to foster a culture of welfare capable of generating value for both companies and communities.”

Barbara Ambrogioni, Head of Health & Welfare Services and Marketing at Generali Welion, emphasises that “the research findings show that corporate welfare is increasingly recognised by Ligurian businesses as a tool capable of generating value for both people and the organisation. The growth recorded in this region confirms a growing focus on employees’ wellbeing and the quality of the working environment. As Generali, we want to support companies on this journey, promoting the adoption of practical solutions that help improve people’s quality of life.”

Raoul de Forcaderedattore
Luogo: Genova
Lingue parlate: italiano, inglese
Argomenti: shipping, nautica, economia, finanza.
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