Workers see more value in employee benefits as pandemic-era annual enrollment nears

Nearly three-quarters say programs—such as income protection and financial wellness tools—are a big reason they would stay at a job, up dramatically from a year ago.

NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, workers report a significant increase in the value they place on the benefits offered by their employers, including a double-digit increase in how likely they are to remain at a job based on non-health benefits such as retirement savings, disability insurance, life insurance and other tools to help alleviate financial stress.

In a survey by Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU) to understand employee needs and perspectives ahead of the 2020 annual enrollment period, employed respondents overwhelmingly said their benefits programs make up a key part of their compensation (77%, up from 67% from a year ago) and are a big reason they would stay at a job (73% vs 59%).

Under normal circumstances, open enrollment season poses unique opportunities and challenges for employers and brokers. This year, the impact of COVID-19 will provide the backdrop as they are tasked with curating, administering and communicating the right mix of benefits to support the interconnected physical, mental and financial wellness of their employees.

Workers will similarly face enrollment decisions in the current environment—and those choices matter, in unexpected ways. The research found that people who report that their benefits reduced stress are more likely to opt for certain lesser-adopted benefits—particularly those that can alleviate unanticipated expenses. Examples include participation in a health savings account, accident insurance and life insurance.

Other findings in the survey, conducted Aug. 3-4, include:

• 75% agreed that, “Due to the pandemic, I feel that access to benefits through an employer is now more important than ever before.”
• 75% agreed that, “Given the current environment, it makes me realize that benefits are a much more important part of a job.”
• By more than a 2-to-1 margin, respondents said they would “be willing to take a chance on a new job right now if it offered better benefits” (52% agree vs. 24% disagree, with 24% neutral).

“While we’re pleased to see workers increasingly recognize the value of a comprehensive, cohesive workplace benefits package, we also cannot ignore that this stems from the financial, physical and mental stressors of the pandemic,” said Leston Welsh, head of business segments for Prudential Group Insurance. “Given the uncertainty of the current environment, it’s more important than ever for employers to educate and encourage their employees to choose the solutions that will help safeguard their financial security—over the near and long term.”

About Prudential Group Insurance

Prudential Group Insurance manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term disability and corporate and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. to institutional clients primarily for use within employee and membership benefit plans. The business also sells voluntary products, including critical illness, accidental death and dismemberment and other ancillary coverages. In addition, the business provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages, and administrative services for employee paid and unpaid leave, including FMLA, ADA, and PFL.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2020, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

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