Pandemic accelerates employer voluntary benefit offerings, Willis Towers Watson survey finds

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[{"type":"text","content":"Growth seen in critical illness, identity theft and pet insurance benefits\nARLINGTON, Va., May 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The pandemic is driving more employers to offer voluntary benefits, with nearly all employers (94%) expecting these employee-pay-all or unsubsidized benefits to hold great importance in their organizations during the next three years, according to a survey by Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company. The Emerging Trends in Health Care Survey found that employer interest in offering voluntary benefits has been burgeoning, with 94% of employers finding voluntary benefits to be important to their employee value proposition and Total Rewards strategy three years from now, compared with just 36% of employers deeming them to be important in 2018. “Employers view voluntary benefits as a cost-effective way to offer employees a wide range of benefit options that best meet their needs,” said Lydia Jilek, senior director, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, Willis Towers Watson. “The pandemic has given rise to an increase in benefits that protect employees against big hospital bills and loss of income, and provide personal protection.” Survey identifies top five fastest growing benefits As employers face a different landscape, they are proactively expanding their voluntary benefits to address new trends and better meet the needs of a diverse workforce, especially those affected by the pandemic. The top five fastest growing benefits are: Voluntary benefitCurrently offered Will offer by 2022 or beyondPercentage point changeIdentify theft53%78%+25%Hospital indemnity42%65%+23%Pet insurance47%69%+22%Critical illness57%76%+19%Group legal58%75%+17% The survey also found that the following voluntary offerings are among the most widespread benefits, services and perks that employers currently offer or are planning to offer over the next two years: Financial planning/counseling through an existing vendor (93%)Tuition reimbursement programs (88%)Telephonic financial planning/counseling (77%)Onsite fitness center (54%)Backup childcare (48%)Elder care (44%) “Our research shows that employees are craving more voluntary and flexible benefits,” said Jilek. “Employers are supplementing existing core benefits with more personalized benefits to provide additional ways to support their empl...

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