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What benefits are employees looking for?

Employee Benefits

If you’re trying to balance the costs of employee benefits while maintaining the kinds of offerings employees are looking for, you’ve got a lot to consider. On top of continuing government debate over the national healthcare system, the recent pandemic has made benefits a key area of competition for attracting talent.

Topping the employees' lists are healthcare and retirement planning, but they are interested in other products and benefits, too, especially in the wake of the pandemic. 

So how can you create an attractive baseline benefits package and still control costs? 

Challenges with baseline benefits

In terms of benefits, employees primarily look to their employers for access to health insurance and ways to save for retirement. Yet the trend in both areas is toward consumer-driven products, meaning employees need to make more of their own decisions about what benefits they choose and what they will spend. Gone are the days when the employer could simply offer a "one-size-fits-all" benefits package.

However, many employees really don't want to be driving this bus. They’re focused on their work and careers, they don’t always have the time to research all the choices they have, and they may not understand how to pick the best benefit coverages for their own life circumstances.

Meanwhile, employers may find the situation even more complicated because costs can easily get out of control. That’s why some employers are offering a flat spending credit that employees can use for an array of benefits or just toward health benefits (medical, dental, and vision).

Today, employees have many questions — whether they feel comfortable asking them or not. More than ever, business owners and benefits managers need to understand their employee population’s needs as well as find ways to educate employees about benefit options.

Health insurance

A top concern of employees is health insurance. The marketplace is flooded with plan types, and a financial professional can really help employers deconstruct the details.

In general, traditional health plans have higher premiums and fuller coverages and vary in terms of coverage for in-network versus out-of-network providers.

To trim costs, many employers choose to offer high deductible health plans (HDHPs) because they offer reduced premiums — but, in these instances, employees pay more out of pocket because there are higher deductibles than with traditional health plans. However, these plans also offer employees the chance to reduce their federal taxes by saving for out-of-pocket expenses through a health savings account (HSA).

A financial professional can help you compare your employee population’s needs with the pros and cons of the various plans. They can also check with multiple carriers to compare prices.

Retirement options

The ability to contribute to a qualified retirement plan — 401(k), 403(b), or IRA, for example — is often the second most important benefit employees look for. Offering a corporate match is a great way to attract talent. When selecting a plan administrator, look for employee resources like call centers, online account management, and tools that can help employees plan and manage their retirement funding.

A second option to consider is offering a more traditional pension. While it's not very common for smaller businesses, offering one can help ensure employee retention for longer periods of time. A pension that has a defined vesting period, such as five years or more, is a huge financial incentive to stay with a company, especially on top of an employee's 401(k) plan.

Voluntary benefits

Next up are voluntary benefits. These may not cost employers unless the employer elects to subsidize these benefits as an incentive for employees. Voluntary benefits may give employees the opportunity to take advantage of discounted rates that insurers may offer on certain insurance products provided through the work site.

Also, when buying life insurance or disability income (DI) insurance through the worksite, employees oftentimes don’t need to go through full medical underwriting. Making insurance products available on a voluntary basis can be a win-win for employers and employees. Employers are offering employees a convenient way to purchase life or DI insurance through the workplace, and employees can get the products they want. Millennials, in particular, tend to evaluate employee benefits packages for these options — they want to see they have a range of choices.

Growth and development

Career and professional development benefits are another important way you can attract and retain great employees. Some employers have development plans that require annual training or supplement employee education with tuition reimbursement. Providing, in some way, for growth and development shows leadership.

Educating employees

Employers are on-point to make information available to employees, especially new hires. To help you, benefit providers have employee communication tools, but keep in mind that everyone learns differently and uses different channels to get information. Employees should be able to opt into the channels they prefer. Information should be available in multiple ways, such as email, webinars, onsite meetings, tools, and videos.

Bottom line: The best benefits to offer your employees are the ones they want the most. Talk to them. Get to know their needs and concerns. Find out what benefits they’d spend money on and what they wouldn’t.

When you discover what’s really important to them, you may even consider picking up the tab for some of it. When you look at both the cost to the business and potential tax advantages you may receive, additional benefits may cost you less than a salary raise and have the same positive effect on the employee.

The information provided is not written or intended as specific tax or legal advice. Lenox Advisors, Inc. (Lenox), its employees and representatives are not authorized to give tax or legal advice. You are encouraged to seek advice from your own tax or legal counsel. Opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Lenox Advisors.

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