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Customizing benefits plans according to talent pool trends The pandemic has redefined workplace norms. Employers large and small are adjusting talent recruitment and retention strategies to adjust for new expectations, such as more flexible work schedules and a holistic approach to employee benefits offerings. Gartner, a global technological research and consulting firm, notes that major post-pandemic work trends include an increase in remote working, more data collection, contingent worker expansion and a rising emphasis on an employer’s need to serve as a social safety net for employees’ physical, mental and financial well-being. Here is a look at some workforce trends and benefit plan considerations that employers should take into account in the current talent climate:
Benefit plan considerations your organization should weigh
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he pandemic changed a lot of things for a lot of businesses, and employers have been struggling to reel in high-quality talent ever since. Increasing pay can help, but it isn’t always an option. Fortunately, your benefit plans can also set you apart from the competition. Here are just a few ways you can tweak your benefit programs to help you land new talent and retain existing employees.
REEVALUATE YOUR BENEFIT PROGRAMS
NEW SOLUTIONS Despite a health benefit cost hike in 2021 – particularly among small employers – companies have opted not to pass along the cost burden to employees, according to Mercer’s 2021 National Survey of EmployerSponsored Health Plans. Instead, they focus on supporting employees’ behavioral health, adding virtual health care solutions and seeking new ways to engage employees, whether they are at the office or remote.
CONTINUING EDUCATION INVESTMENTS Organizations that fundamentally value the contributions of each employee embrace the idea that each individual is central to team success.The so-called “Love + Work” organization model views employees as an integration point for stakeholders, and not just one individual of many, according to The Harvard Business Review. Benefits are tailored as investments, such as providing direct payment for college degrees, student loan reimbursements or giving employees discretionary time to pursue their own projects.
IN ALIGNMENT Overall, about 60% of employees are extremely or very satisfied with their current job, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2021 Workplace Wellness Survey. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 31% feel their employers’ efforts to improve their well-being have increased. However, about 60% say efforts have remained the same.
BENEFITS THAT MATTER While health care benefits remain the most desirable, employees have shifted their views on what other benefits also matter, according to Society for Human Resource Management.Their 2020 Employee Benefits report includes a ranking of benefits that respondents consider to be extremely or very important: • 90%: Health care • 83%: Flexible work • 83%: Leave • 76%: Working for a family friendly business • 62%: Wellness • 55%: Retirement
TAKING CARE OF CAREGIVERS That same report found that more employers increased their family focused leave options and paid family leave beyond the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act due to the added burdens of caregiving driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The FMLA includes up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period for eligible employees. The share of organizations offering paid family leave increased by 7 points, from 23% to 31% in 2020.
SOURCES: Employee Benefit Research Institute, Gartner, Harvard Business Review, Society for Human Resource Management Compiled by Kathy Ames Carr, Crain’s Content Studio - Cleveland
What benefit programs do you offer now? Do these benefit programs appeal to the Workforce of 2022? It’s possible that the programs you offer aren’t as valuable to your employees as they once were. For example, if your business implemented remote or flexible work schedules in 2020 or 2021, your benefits will almost certainly need to change. Replacing a parking and transit benefit program with mental health support or better childcare benefits could be just the change your employees want to see.
GAIN INTEL Gather as much information as you can from peers in your industry and from other local businesses. If you learn where successful companies are spending their money, you can figure out what benefits are most valued. The SHRM Benefits Survey is a great place to start. The results of the 2020 survey show that employers have been changing their benefit plan offerings in recent years, likely in response to COVID-19. For example, 78% of employer respondents said they increased options for their employees to work remotely and 39% expanded childcare benefits. You may want to consider doing the same. But take survey information like this with a grain of salt. Your employees’ desires and expectations should be the driving force behind your benefit plan decisions. Talk to your employees about what perks they value most and focus your energy there.
REEVALUATE THE COMPANY’S BENEFIT STRUCTURE Another way to meet the needs of individual employees is to have a la carte options. Your main benefits (like your health insurance and retirement plan) will likely need to be the same for all employees, but you can offer different add-ons that employees can elect into. For example, if you offered a childcare flexible spending account (FSA), employees with small children can opt in while employees without children can simply not participate. To compile the right types of offerings, get familiar with your employees’ demographics. Average age, income level
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MICHELLE H. BUCKLEY, CPA, AIFA® Vice president, practice leader, Benefit Plan Group mbuckley@meadenmoore.com 216-928-5379 Michelle is a vice president in Meaden & Moore’s Assurance Services Group with over 30 years of public accounting experience serving middle market companies focused on manufacturing, distribution and service industries. Michelle’s primary responsibility is to ensure that each of her clients receive high-quality, timely service. She continually looks for ways to reduce the costs of the engagement while finding ways to add value to the relationship. As a practice leader of the firm’s employee benefits and consulting practice, Michelle has had extensive experience with qualified benefit plan audits, operational reviews, tax issues and the unique complexities of these engagements. She understands the risks to plan sponsors and continuously offers suggestions for improvement to minimize any potential fiduciary liability.
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HEL and family situation can dictate what benefits your employees will value. But don’t just look at your current employee makeup; track how employee demographics have been changing and take those trends into consideration.
IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES Employee turnover is expensive, disrupts the workflow and can negatively impact morale. One way to help reduce employee turnover is to improve communications with your employees, especially when it comes to your benefit plan offerings. You’re likely required to send annual updates to employees about their retirement plan, but how many other times during the year are you reaching out? It’s possible, if not likely, that many of your workers are unaware of the benefits available to them. Remind your workers what benefits they have at their disposal and help them sign up for those programs if they need assistance.
This advertising-supported section/feature is produced by Crain’s Content Studio-Cleveland, the marketing storytelling arm of Crain’s Cleveland Business. The Crain’s Cleveland Business newsroom is not involved in creating Crain’s Content Studio content.
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