Workforce Experience Linked to Benefits Communications Enhancements, According to Guardian Study
Employees entering the workforce and those near retirement need
tailored communications to optimize workplace benefits
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Guardian
Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), one of the
nation’s largest mutual life insurers and a leading provider of employee
benefits, today announced new findings from the third annual Guardian
Workplace Benefits StudySM that highlight the personal
and financial needs among employees at different stages of their careers
and how education and enrollment plays a role in their decision-making.
The study reveals how employees beginning their careers and those
approaching retirement have distinct financial needs and prefer benefits
and communications that are relevant to their situations. Early entrants
(those within the first five years of working) say that they want more
choice and education delivered via the workplace, while near-retirees
(those within five years of retirement) value their benefits and worry
about losing them in retirement. You can view the top personal and
financial concerns of both groups in this infographic.
Early entrants expressed a strong desire for financial education and
guidance on their benefits decisions to help them focus on their
immediate financial needs, such as paying bills, job security, work/life
balance and reducing debt. Nearly two-thirds of these younger workers
believe that buying insurance and saving for retirement through their
employer is easier than doing it on their own and 56 percent prefer
learning about financial planning and products at work compared to 44
percent of those near retirement. This group is clearly looking for the
workplace to help them develop healthy financial habits.
Unlike their younger colleagues, near-retirees are most concerned about
their finances and health in retirement, specifically in terms of
maintaining adequate health insurance, having a comfortable retirement,
staying healthy and having sufficient savings. While 93 percent of
respondents in this age group feel it is important to have retirement
savings that lasts as long as needed, only 62 percent state that they
have had success in achieving this goal. It’s apparent that this group
needs more information to optimize benefit packages to meet their
upcoming lifestyle changes.
“Benefit education and communications solutions can’t be one size fits
all, but must be clear, relevant, and personalized to different
populations within the workplace in order to be successful,” says Ray
Marra, Senior Vice President, Group Products at Guardian.
While all employees find tailored benefits communications and support
valuable, six in ten say that their benefits meetings would be more
relevant if they were targeted by age. Those within the first five years
of working feel that they need more personal advice during enrollment.
If employers increase access to education and advice, it may benefit the
nearly seven in ten early entrants who say that finding a trusted source
of financial advice is a highly important goal. Unfortunately, only 33
percent of employers place high importance on tailored communications
and only 13 percent have implemented such an approach.
“Our research reveals that employers are demonstrating a renewed focus
on improving employee satisfaction,” Marra added. “Guardian has seen an
increased interest from employers for its comprehensive support services
as more employers look for customized education materials, enrollment
technology solutions and personal services such as benefits counselors
and an employee benefits hotline to provide to their employees. Offering
these customized tools will help employees make the best benefits
choices for their current situation.”
For more information about Guardian’s Workplace Benefits or to obtain a
copy of The Guardian Workplace Benefits StudySM:
Third Annual, please visit
https://www.guardiananytime.com/2015-workplace-benefits-study or Guardian
Anytime .
About the Survey
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian)
conducted the Guardian Workplace Benefits Study to showcase how the
workplace remains a foundation of financial security for many American
households, and how employees rely on benefits for overall feelings of
financial preparedness.
This study presents findings from two online surveys conducted in the
fall of 2014 among benefits decision-makers (“Employers”) and another
among 1,706 benefits plan participants (“Employees”), age 22 or older,
who work full time for a U.S. company with at least five employees.
About Guardian
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian) is
one of the largest mutual life insurers, with $6.8 billion in capital
and $1.3 billion in operating income in 2014. Founded in 1860, the
company has paid dividends to policyholders every year since 1868. Its
offerings range from life insurance, disability income insurance,
annuities, and investments for individuals to workplace benefits, such
as dental, vision, and 401(k) plans. The company has approximately 6,000
employees and a network of over 3,000 financial representatives in more
than 70 agencies nationwide. For more information about Guardian, please
visit www.GuardianLife.com.
Financial information concerning The Guardian Life Insurance Company of
America, as of December 31, 2014, on a statutory basis: Admitted Assets
= $45.3 Billion; Liabilities = $39.6 Billion (including $34.9 Billion of
Reserves); and Surplus =$5.7 Billion. Dividends are not guaranteed. They
are declared annually by Guardian’s Board of Directors.
Contacts
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Ana Sandoval,
212-919-8551
Ana_Sandoval@glic.com
or
Harden Communications Partners
Erin Burke,
631-239-6903
eburke@hardenpartners.com
