What should employers prioritize when it comes to workplace financial wellbeing in the year ahead? As economic conditions evolve and employee expectations shift, it’s essential to stay ahead of emerging trends. Here are the top four themes set to have the greatest impact on workplace financial wellbeing this year, offering insights into how organizations can adapt their strategies to meet the changing needs of their workforce.
Building emergency savings
Given the current economic uncertainty, establishing or replenishing emergency savings has become more critical than ever for financial stability and resilience.
Having funds for a rainy day is the largest predictor of financial wellbeing. As a result, workplace programs focused on building short-term savings have become a critical priority.
Think of emergency savings education as preventative care for employee financial stress. Having money stashed away today means peace of mind tomorrow. Look for holistic financial wellbeing programs that shine a light on emergency savings as a part of each employee’s full financial picture.
Choosing the right health insurance / voluntary benefits
Your workplace offers outstanding benefits. Are employees using them to their full potential?
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that benefits are worth 30% of an average employee's total compensation. When employees are confused, uninformed, or intimated, they leave money on the table and put their wellbeing at risk.
Choose a financial wellbeing program that provides benefit decision assistance and Open Enrollment communications to help employees elect with confidence this year.
Preparing for big life events
Employees seek financial guidance when it’s time to make a big decision, especially for the first time. That’s because major life events like getting married, buying a home, and having kids can be extremely stressful.
Missing an important step or getting something wrong this year can be disastrous for their financial future. Offering access to Certified Financial Planner™️ professionals can be valuable to employees and employers alike during these big milestones.
With a financial wellbeing program that offers access to CFPⓇ professionals, your benefits team will enjoy peace of mind knowing that employees’ questions will be answered by a trusted resource.
Saving for retirement
Who doesn’t aspire to achieve financial independence and make work optional someday? For most, the key to this goal lies in effective retirement savings. While the concept seems simple, the path to building a secure retirement plan is often far more complex.
For many employees, competitive retirement benefits aren't enough to help them feel supported. Employees want to know how much of their paycheck they should be stashing away, how to plan when retirement is 20+ years in the future, and how to know if they’re saving enough (and what to do if they’re not financially able to save). With 401(k) loans on the rise, employees need to consider their financial foundations so they can handle expenses today while they save for tomorrow.
Skip guidance from your 401(k) provider that only addresses this one piece of the employee's full financial picture. Explore programs that offer employees holistic education and interactive tools (such as retirement readiness calculators) from a trusted financial wellbeing provider.