LendEDU Finds Student Debt is Down, But Financial Stress is High

LendEDU Finds Student Debt is Down, But Financial Stress is High

In this week’s Best Money Moves roundup, we take a look at news stories and new research studies that may impact employee benefits and HR issues. We hope you find this news roundup helpful, and we’d love your feedback.

For new graduates entering the workforce, student debt is still a major cause of financial stress.

The average student debt per borrower for the Class of 2016 is $27,975, according to LendEDU’s second annual Student Loan Debt by School by State report. That number is actually down 1.5 percent from 2015, but it isn’t quite enough to lift the stress from graduates starting their careers with significant student debt.

The five states with the highest average student debt per borrower are probably not what you expect. Most of them are on the East Coast, and for all of them, the proportion of graduates who carry student loan debt is 60 percent or higher — some even reaching as high as 75 percent. Take a look:

  1. Pennsylvania
    ($35,185 average debt per borrower, 69 percent of grads have student debt)
  2. New Hampshire
    ($35,143 average debt per borrower, 75 percent of grads have debt)
  3. Delaware
    ($33,650 average debt per borrower, 63 percent of grads have debt)
  4. Connecticut
    ($32,326 average debt per borrower, 60 percent of grads have debt)
  5. South Dakota
    ($31,518 average debt per borrower, 75 percent of grads have debt)

It would be easy for employers to read the headline “student debt is down” and think of it as good news — and it is. But looking more closely at the numbers, it’s clear that student debt is a serious problem that’s not going away anytime soon. Shouldering the burden of student debt impacts your employees’ stress levels — and overall well-being — every single day.

Understanding your employees’ financial needs is the first step to helping them overcome these hurdles and stay more focused, productive and happy at work.

Financial stress is the top cause of lost productivity. Shifting the perspective of your employee benefits program to address it isn’t just good for employees, it’s good for business.

It’s almost time to make big decisions about your 2018 benefits offerings. While the possibility of health care reform generates a lot of uncertainty among today’s workforce, there are ways you can prepare them for the long term.

College costs are increasing far faster than income growth. It’s no wonder that students struggle to pay off hefty student loan bills for years afterward. Luckily, parents can help.

Voluntary benefits are growing in popularity, but many employees don’t really know or understand the options available.  Five ways to educate your team.

Is your company “aging-friendly?” Almost 70 percent of employers believe their employees won’t be able to afford to retire at 65. It’s time to adapt to your older employees’ needs.

Language training improves employee engagement and retention. Research shows that 70 percent of employees with language training feel more confident in their work and interactions with their teams. Is it right for your employees?

Nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population is responsible for the care of a family member. A survey by Northeast Business Group on Health and AARP ranked caregiving as one of the top 10 employee health and wellness benefits priorities for employers. Here’s how you can assist those who assist.

Are your employees leaving money on the table? Among employees who participate in 401(k) programs, roughly one in five don’t take advantage of their full employer match. That missing money adds up.

Not all states are created equal when it comes to health care. A new report from WalletHub, 2017’s Best and Worst States for Health Care, compares states across three areas: cost, accessibility and outcome. Where does your state rank?

 

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.

Why Employers Want Unique Financial Wellness Solutions

Why Employers Want Unique Financial Wellness Solutions

In this week’s Best Money Moves roundup, we take a look at news stories and new research studies that may impact employee benefits and HR issues. We hope you find this news roundup helpful, and we’d love your feedback.

Employee financial wellness is the top initiative employers are focusing on this year, according to Aon Hewitt’s annual Hot Topics in Retirement and Financial Wellbeing survey. In fact, 59 percent of organizations are very likely to expand their programs this year.

Why should your company be one of them? Your employees are financially stressed. Aging workers are struggling to retire, and young workers are so burdened by student loan debt that they can’t begin to think about saving for retirement. At all stages of life, your workforce is stressed about money.

It’s important to find the right financial wellness program that can address the unique needs of your employees. Here are five steps to take.

Can your employees retire at 65? Sixty-nine percent of employers don’t think so, according to a new Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey. Learn these four ways employers can help.

Flexible work policies top many employees’ wish lists. Studies show working remotely does increase employee engagement, but that flexibility works best in moderation.

Internships are on the rise, and believe it or not, compensation isn’t the top priority for potential candidates. Here’s what is.

How’s your gender gap? The Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of women said being a working mother made it difficult to advance in their careers. Remote work makes a difference.

Millennials are looking for a strong career path. If they are not presented with development opportunities, they’re more likely to jump ship. Attract young talent.

Workers have competing financial priorities that prevent them from taking full advantage of company retirement matches. Financial wellness programs can help.

Poor communication is bad for employee retention. A new EmployeeChannel, Inc. survey found that frequent and effective communication are the top two behaviors that create a positive work experience.

How motivated are your employees? There are competing theories about the best ways to increase employee motivation and productivity. Find what works for you.

 

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.

Want to Attract Top Talent? Offer Parental Leave

Want to Attract Top Talent? Offer Parental Leave

In this week’s Best Money Moves roundup, we take a look at news stories and new research studies that may impact employee benefits and HR issues. We hope you find this news roundup helpful, and we’d love your feedback.

How old-fashioned is your parental leave policy?

Let’s start with what you call it. “Maternity” coverage is a last-century term. The preferred term is either “parental leave” or “family leave.” And while 86 percent of employees in the U.S. don’t have access to paid parental leave, companies are starting to understand that generous parental and family leave policies can boost reputation, attract new employees and increase both employee productivity and retention.

Young workers, in particular, place a lot of value on both paid parental leave and workplace flexibility around parenting issues. And not just the female portion of your workforce. Since 78 percent of millennials are part of a two-career couple, policies that honor both partners’ professional and parental needs are vital.

Implementing leave policies that don’t recognize the needs of modern workers can get in the way of your company’s recruitment goals.

Seventy percent of American workers aren’t engaged with their jobs. Trendy benefits won’t solve a deeper problem with morale. Here’s what will.

Three out of four Americans support raising the federal minimum wage. Higher wages are known to improve customer service, increase productivity and reduce employee turnover.

Only 20 percent of millennials are satisfied with their financial health. That’s significantly lower than the overall population. Here’s why.

Is your financial wellness program too focused on retirement? Short term financial goals are a top concern, especially among young employees.

Do you need a break? A generous vacation policy can have a positive impact on your workplace. See the report.

Communication is key. In fact, managers with poor communication skills are the number one reason employees leave. Listen better.

Understanding your workforce demographic is vital to recruiting and retaining great talent. Craft a benefits package that appeals to your multigenerational employees.

Eighty percent of older women can’t pass this retirement quiz. That’s especially troubling since women tend to live longer and accumulate higher healthcare costs.

A good company culture can mean the difference between employees sticking around and moving on to greener pastures. So be careful: not every trendy benefit is a good cultural fit.

 

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.

These Employee Benefits Boost Happiness and Retention

These Employee Benefits Boost Happiness and Retention

In this week’s Best Money Moves roundup, we take a look at news stories and new research studies that may impact employee benefits and HR issues. We hope you find this news roundup helpful, and we’d love your feedback.

Are the employee benefits you offer helping workers beat the summertime blues?

Benefits that promote a positive work-life balance are proven to boost mood, engagement, productivity and employee retention.

Employees value employers who help them create space in their lives for family, fun and relaxation. Excluding salary, a good work-life balance is the top consideration for millennial job-seekers, according to Deloitte’s 2016 millennial survey.

Not all perks make sense for all workplaces. Listen to your employees and learn which employee benefits would make their lives easier this summer.  While some companies offer summer-specific rewards, others benefit from extra work-from-home flexibility or childcare assistance for stressed parents.

Build your employee benefits package around your employees’ well-being.

Twenty-five percent of millennials would love to quit their jobs. One hiring manager knew the typical office perks weren’t working. Here’s what she did.

More Americans are living paycheck to paycheck than ever before. Luckily, there are strategies companies can use to help relieve employee financial stress.

Identity theft and fraud are becoming more common – and more stressful. Your employees would certainly appreciate your understanding if they’re facing these issues, but they can also use your help. Provide the right resources.

It’s time to listen to your team. Conversations with employees take time, but hiring new people takes even more. Ask these three questions.

Not all press is good press. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 71 percent of workers would not apply to a business with bad publicity. Boost  your image.

Part-time workers lack employee benefits and it’s making them vulnerable. Providing access to voluntary benefits programs could help relieve financial stress. Learn more.

Are your employees retiring? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts over-65s will be the fastest-growing workplace demographic, and that presents a challenge for businesses. Where this leaves employers.

Job seekers have more options than they used to, which is why attracting quality workers goes beyond offering competitive salaries and standard benefits packages. Recruit top talent.

Give credit where credit is due. Want to keep your employees happy? Don’t take credit for their work.

 

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.

Introducing New Tech? Don’t Worry About Employee Retention

Introducing New Tech? Don’t Worry About Employee Retention

In this week’s Best Money Moves roundup, we take a look at news stories and new research studies that may impact employee benefits and HR issues. We hope you find this news roundup helpful, and we’d love your feedback.

Employee retention is a top priority for almost all employers, and companies know that providing the latest tech is a great way to attract young talent. But unfortunately, introducing new tools the wrong way could put older workers at risk of falling behind.

The key is to keep all of your employees – from millennials to baby boomers – engaged while learning new ways of working. Encouraging collaboration can help ease employees through these transitions while also breaking down generational gaps.

Are your employees tuning you out? Workers report that video calls and visual content are more trustworthy and easier to understand than traditional voice calls and written documents.  Improve internal communication.

One in three Americans haven’t recovered from the Great Recession. One expert blames a job-skills gap. Get your employees up to speed.

Saving money doesn’t come easily for anyone, and making more money doesn’t mean you have more money stashed away. Clearly, the problem isn’t just the amount of take home pay.

Companies often deal with grief as an isolated incident, but it doesn’t end at the two-week (or three-month) mark. Give employees the tools they need to be resilient before they need them.

Americans are stressed out at work, and it’s causing employee burnout. How can you help? Actively listen to your workforce.

Does working from home work? Flexibility improves morale, but it can conflict with the rise of team-based work. Strike a balance.

How trendy is your office? HR departments are changing the way they approach everything from recruiting to employee engagement. Take a look at the future of HR.

Gen X investors are seriously stressed. A new FICO survey found that 41 percent feel they need to save more for the future than they are today. Learn how to help.

Americans can’t seem to retire. Almost 19 percent of people 65 or older were working at least part-time in the second quarter of 2017, according to a new U.S. jobs report. Here’s the problem.

 

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.