Hello! It’s Clarity Claire, your go-to expert on benefits at Clarity. With Open Enrollment season just around the corner, now’s the perfect time for HR professionals to tap into some of the top employee benefits trends leading the workforce today.
In this article, I will share some insight into the top employee benefits industry trends expected in 2025 and provide some brilliant strategies that you can take to cost-effectively bring these trends to the forefront. Staying on trend with your benefits administration will help ensure you’re set up with the tools and resources you need to engage your workforce. Let's explore!
Top Emerging Trends in Employee Benefits
While some trends will continue to remain strong, such as the increased demand for flexible work arrangements and generous PTO policies, several new trends are catching on and continue to reshape the landscape of employee benefits. Take a look at what employees are saying they care about most:
Trend 1: Personalized Benefit Packages
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all benefits. Today's workforce demands benefits that align with their personal circumstances and life stages. A rise in demand for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), especially among younger employees, is particularly striking. These plans often offer more customization with lower premiums that attract budget-conscious employees.
By giving employees numerous options for tailor-made benefits, you build employee satisfaction while becoming a magnet for top talent looking for all-inclusive offerings.
Trend 2: Increased Mental Health Assistance
Did you know that 82% of the workforce feels at risk of burnout? To compound this issue, one of the biggest challenges facing employees is not knowing if they have mental health coverage available to them or how to navigate their options. Not to mention that the added stigma of asking employers for help often stops many employees from finding resources.
To help combat these circumstances, ensure that your benefits package provides mental health resources such as counseling, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to pay for therapy copays, and an employee assistance program (EAP). Make these benefits highly visible, educate your team on how to access them, and actively destigmatize their usage throughout the workplace. This can be as simple as having more open conversations about mental health or celebrating specific mental health awareness holidays.
Trend 3: Cost Savings
Economic forces are pressuring many people to face increasing healthcare costs, so employee demand is high for affordable yet broad plans. Address these needs with a flexible benefits package designed to accommodate a wide range of employee life stages.
You can also find out exactly what your employees need most with benefits needs assessments and surveys. These tools allow you to ask specific questions so you can allocate your budget to the benefits that really matter to your team.
Trend 4: Back to Basics
Employees want their employers to stop chasing after flashy benefits like product discounts and employee recreation rooms and get back to quality, fundamental benefits they really need. Employees will always want comprehensive health insurance, affordable life insurance, and great childcare options, much more than they want a monthly pizza party.
By making sure the benefits you offer are practical, you can help make your employees' day-to-day lives just a little bit better and reinforce their worth and value to your company.
Trend 5: Education & Technology
Even the best benefit plans can be wasted if employees do not understand them. No matter which plans you choose, setting up a time to walk through any plan changes with your employees is imperative. This should be during new employee onboarding as well as each year during Open Enrollment or renewal. Show them exactly how to access their benefits, how to use the platforms, and where to look for educational resources when they need help. Then, be sure to remind them throughout the year of these benefits and resources, not only during Open Enrollment.
And remember, technology is your friend! With new integrative benefits platforms, you can combine your HR, payroll, benefits management, and compliance into one platform, saving you time so you can focus on helping your team succeed.
Are You Ready for Open Enrollment & Renewal Season?
Preparing for these trends in employee benefits doesn’t have to be daunting. By focusing on personalization, mental health, cost-effectiveness, fundamental benefits, and education, you can design a benefits package that truly resonates with your team. After all, understanding and implementing these employee benefits industry trends effectively can set your company apart as a forward-thinking, employee-centered organization.
Thanks for coming along on this trip into the future of employee benefits! If you need more insights or assistance planning for Open Enrollment, contact us here at Clarity. We're here to make those changes simple and put a smile back on your face!
Delivering smiles and simplicity,
Clarity Claire
