The COVID-19 pandemic has tested both individuals and businesses in unprecedented ways. Employees’ work/life balance has been tested, mental health issues have become more prominent, and the emergence of vaccines (and the issues surrounding them) have challenged company leadership, HR, and employees alike.
These challenges have led to a renewed emphasis on employee benefits. As we begin to settle into our “new normal”, these are 4 trends we’re seeing concerning employee benefits.
1. Flexible/Hybrid Work Environments
Outside of salary and standard benefits, a flexible working environment is considered among the top benefits an employer can offer.
As work and life have intermingled more than ever over the last few years, we’ve developed new behaviors and lifestyles that weren’t attainable with the previous in-office schedules. But not everyone wants to work from home 100% of the time. Some people miss working side by side with their colleagues and others simply want to get out of the house for a while
In this hybrid environment, there is also an emphasis on technological benefits ranging from laptops to stipends for wifi and home office equipment.
2. Social Conscious Benefits
In the wake of nationwide protests and the social awakening of summer 2020, many businesses and HR leaders made changes to their benefits to provide more opportunities to acknowledge systemic issues and provide time for employees to reflect. From recognizing holidays like Juneteenth as paid holidays to offering to match donations to various social causes, businesses are providing their employees something tangible to demonstrate their commitment to social justice issues.
3. Mental Health Benefits
Employee mental health took a major blow over the last few years, so it’s no surprise that rates of burnout, depression, stress, and anxiety have been on the rise. Many employers have stepped up to take this issue seriously by expanding the resources available through their benefits programs – some even allowing employees to take mental health days or online resources.
Equally important, leaders are encouraging their teams to make mental wellness part of workplace discussions. An increasing number of business leaders have prioritized the development of a company culture in which it’s safe to be open with your struggles and exchange ideas for self-care.
4. Accessibility & Enhanced Communication
One of the biggest obstacles to accessing care is knowing what resources are available to the employee! The reality is that employees typically aren’t as aware of their benefits as employers believe them to be.
Employers should regularly encourage their employees to take advantage of the resources available to them. When we only discuss benefits when it’s time to renew them, it’s easy to forget about valuable tools, financial incentives, PTO, and more. Access to these benefits should be readily available and it should be easy to get support if there are any questions.
These trends reveal the expectations of employer benefits have shifted. The last two years have shown us that disruption in the workforce can happen quickly and drastically. As we continue to discover what our “new normal” entails, employers and the benefits they offer are sure to play a major role.
Stay ahead of the competition by keeping an eye on emerging trends in your industry. We look forward to seeing how these trends begin to shape and transform throughout 2022 and into 2023.
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