Benefits Think

"No one has ever asked me, 'What’s your journey been like as a black woman financial adviser? How can I help you?'" says adviser Zaneilia Harris.

Employers are in a unique position to address employees' financial struggles, as benefits programs are a powerful tool that can help support employees in meeting their current and future financial needs.

Leading through this crisis requires empathy for what people are going through now and understanding how living through this crisis will shape people’s expectations around work and non-work lives.

In order to maximize the plans fiduciary responsibilities, a contract with appropriate terms and definitions must be in place to allow the plan to exercise their right to carve-out prior authorization.

Around 63% of workers say their company could do more to support their emotional and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this group, 22% said their company’s response was “barely adequate,” “a disaster” or “non-existent.”

Instead of choosing a one-size-fits-all plan for a group, employers can offer fixed reimbursements that employees can use to purchase their own insurance or use for medical expenses.

Many organizations have taken significant steps to reduce employment costs, and nearly a third already have or plan to furlough workers, with another 19% saying they might if necessary, according to a survey by Unum.

Workplace strategies and benefits need to support employees during a crisis that address the whole person — financial, connectedness, and physical and behavioral health.

Americans’ retirement savings are increasingly threatened by disabilities that temporarily keep employees out of work by turning to hardship withdrawals from retirement plans.

Leave-sharing programs make sense for employers seeking tax-efficient opportunities to financially assist employees impacted by the pandemic.