Small businesses are the engines that drive America’s economy. But many small business owners don’t understand how they can offer their employees the best benefits available while maintaining a strong balance sheet.

That’s why Colonial Life and the Small Business Administration are offering a free webinar, “Taking the Mystery out of Voluntary Benefits,” at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 2. The webinar is part of Colonial Life’s sponsorship of the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, which runs May 1-7.

Only 52 percent of employees at small businesses (with fewer than 100 employees) have a benefits package, compared to 87 percent of employees who work for larger companies, according to a 2014 Colonial Life survey conducted by Harris Poll. Financial protection benefits — such as life insurance, short-term disability insurance, critical illness insurance and accident insurance — can be vital to help America’s workers protect what they’ve worked so hard to build.

Dana Bagwell, director of direct sales and emerging markets at Colonial Life, will conduct the webinar for Colonial Life. Colonial Life also will participate in regional Small Business Week events in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Denver; Phoenix; and San Jose, Calif.

“Many of America’s hard-working small business owners don’t believe they have the time, knowledge or resources to provide high-quality benefits to their employees,” Bagwell said. “We can show them how easy it can be to help their employees protect themselves, their families and their futures through this webinar and the other Small Business Week events we’ll participate in.”

Learn more about the SBA’s Small Business Week activities and register for the free voluntary benefits webinar to learn more about how voluntary benefits can help small employers attract and retain top employees. Small business owners also can stay informed about small business issues and benefits at Colonial Life’s Small Business Hub (coloniallife.com/smallbusiness) or our small business Twitter account (@coloniallifebiz).

About Colonial Life

Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company is a market leader in providing financial protection benefits through the workplace, including disability, life, accident, dental, cancer, critical illness and hospital confinement indemnity insurance. The company’s benefit services and education, innovative enrollment technology and personal service support 85,000 businesses and organizations, representing 3.5 million of America’s workers and their families. For more information visit www.coloniallife.com or connect with the company at www.facebook.com/coloniallifebenefits, www.twitter.com/coloniallife and www.linkedin.com/company/colonial-life.