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Money Matters: The Unique ROI of Employee Financial Wellness

Money Matters: The Unique ROI of Employee Financial Wellness

by | Jun 5, 2024 | Blog

Money Matters: The Unique ROI of Employee Financial Wellness. Financial wellness programs play a crucial role in building good habits and empowering employees. Here are three ways employers can see the ROI of these programs.

Ninety-six percent of employers feel somewhat or extremely responsible for their employees’ financial wellness, according to Bank of America’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Report. However, only 2 in 5 employers currently offer a financial wellness program. Many more companies are interested in employee financial wellness. However, as with all investments, key stakeholders want to understand the return on investment (ROI) to justify the organizational cost.

Measuring the ROI of employee financial wellness programs requires a holistic approach. Employers often don’t realize the ripple effects that financial stress has on their employee’s day-to-day lives. Money issues impact workers of all generations and economic backgrounds and can affect everything from day-to-day productivity to the physical health of your team.

Learn more about the true ROI of offering a financial wellness program. Plus, gain insights into why companies increasingly offer financial wellness benefits to their teams.

A stat about employers and the roi of financial wellness.

The ROI of financial wellness programs: 3 advantages of offering a financial wellness program

1. Increased company efficiency and productivity.

No matter what stage of life your employees are in, money remains a top stressor for most Americans. Financial stress can affect employees’ wellbeing and productivity — in fact, 1 in 3 employees say that financial stress has distracted them at work and ultimately impacted their productivity, per PwC’s 2023 Employee Financial Wellness Survey.

For financially stressed employees, money worries take up a lot of headspace and energy — this can lead to employee dissatisfaction and overall lower productivity. According to PwC’s Employee Financial Wellness survey, 56% of financially stressed employees spend at least 3 hours per week at work worrying about their finances.

By offering a financial wellness program, companies can help decrease employees’ distractions and dial down their financial worries. And with a less distracted and financially stressed workforce, companies can benefit from increased company efficiency and productivity.

2. Lower healthcare costs.

ROI can be hard to measure, especially when it comes to the unexpected effects that company policies may have on employees. However, after looking at healthcare outcomes and costs, researchers at the Society for Human Resources (SHRM) have found there are several returns on investing in financial wellness programs, including improved employee health, lower absenteeism, and reduced turnover.

About 66% of organizations say that financial wellness benefits are “somewhat effective” or “very effective” in reducing their healthcare costs, according to SHRM’s research. To quantify this return on investment, researchers found that for every dollar invested in employee financial wellness has given companies a return on investment (ROI) of approximately $6 in reduced healthcare costs.

With a quality financial wellness program, employees can receive the tools and on-hand support they need to help dial down their financial stress. With less stress, employees can benefit from fewer healthcare visits and improved health outcomes, mentally, emotionally and physically.

3. Retain and attract top talent.

In today’s job market, a high salary isn’t enough to attract and keep top talent. As a result, HR leaders and C-suite executives see attracting and retaining top talent as a key business priority and area of investment. To remain a competitive employer of choice, many companies are increasingly investing in financial wellness programs.

Employees across the income ladder experience financial stress, and in today’s fluid job market, employees want an employer that values and supports their financial wellbeing. According to PwC’s Employee Financial Wellness survey, financially stressed employees are more likely to look for a new job and be attracted to an employer they feel cares more about their financial wellness.

For top talent, especially high-income earners, having access to financial wellness benefits can be a key deciding factor in choosing an employer. Instead of serving as an optional benefit offering, financial wellness support has increasingly become an expected core offering in the workplace.

Looking to maximize the ROI of your financial wellness program? Try Best Money Moves!

Best Money Moves is a mobile-first financial wellness solution designed to help dial down employees’ most top-of-mind financial stresses. As an easy-to-use financial well-being solution, Best Money Moves offers comprehensive support toward any money-related goal. With 1:1 money coaching, budgeting tools and other resources, our AI platform is designed to help improve employee financial well-being.

Whether it be retirement planning or securing a mortgage, Best Money Moves can guide employees through the most difficult financial times and topics. We have robust benefits options for employers, regardless of their benefits budget.

Our dedicated resources, partner offerings and 1000+ article library make Best Money Moves a leading benefit in bettering employee financial wellness.

To learn more about Best Money Moves Financial Wellness Platform, let’s schedule a call. Contact us and we’ll reach out to you soon.

Video: Tackling Financial Stigma: How to Discuss Money At Work

Video: Tackling Financial Stigma: How to Discuss Money At Work

by | May 29, 2024 | Blog

Tackling Financial Stigma: How to Discuss Money At Work. Financial stigma prevents employees from having conversations and seeking out the right education. Here are the best ways to help. 

 


More than half of Americans say they never discussed personal finances growing up and now actively avoid the topic in daily life. It’s no surprise that financial stigma extends into the workplace too. Yet 74% of employees report wanting clear and unbiased guidance when it comes to handling tough financial situations.

To help start the conversation, try Best Money Moves.  

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Best Money Moves is an interactive financial wellness benefit that helps employees make smarter choices about their money. Whether employees are building their first budget, paying down debt, working toward homeownership or planning for retirement – Best Money Moves has the tools they need to turn financial goals into reality. Best Money Moves users gain access to a suite of debt trackers, budgeting calculators and a library of 900+ articles, videos and webinars. Our tools empower employees with actionable solutions to real-world problems. Best Money Moves users also receive exclusive member deals from our library of trusted benefits partners, including discounts on insurance, college planning prescription medications and so much more.

Schedule a call with a member of our team to learn more about Best Money Moves. Contact us and we’ll reach out to you soon.

Simple Ways to Improve Company Culture For Hybrid Work

Simple Ways to Improve Company Culture For Hybrid Work

by | May 14, 2024 | Blog

Simple Ways to Improve Company Culture For Hybrid Work. Hybrid work options have become one of the most in-demand employee benefits. Here are five ways to improve your company culture for hybrid employees.

Hybrid work options have become one of the most in-demand employee benefits with research from Stanford University suggesting that employees perceive hybrid work as equivalent to an 8% pay increase. Employees in hybrid positions benefit from increased flexibility, improved work-life balance and significant savings on commute costs. Data from Upwork also suggests that around one-third of the total American workforce will be hybrid or remote by 2025.

However, transitioning a team to a hybrid work model can pose challenges regarding company culture. A strong company culture fosters a sense of belonging among employees, which is crucial for their performance, engagement and well-being. Studies indicate that employees who feel connected to a larger organization tend to perform better and experience greater satisfaction in their work.

Hybrid and remote workers, who spend time away from their coworkers and physical office space, may not experience the same level of connection and company culture. Hybrid workers often run the risk of isolation and miscommunication. They may also have more difficulty collaborating with their coworkers than those who work from a central location.

As employees seek more workplace flexibility, organizations must adapt and find ways to help their company culture transcend physical office space. These five strategies can help nurture a thriving company culture in this new hybrid era.

A stat about hybrid work in 2025.

1. Set expectations for remote versus in-person work.

Both in-person and hybrid work models offer unique benefits. In-person work, for example, serves as a vital platform for collaboration and team bonding. There is often more opportunity to develop a sense of company culture when you see your coworkers every day. Remote employees, on the other hand, may feel more isolated from their peers. However, they also enjoy a more flexible schedule and may benefit from the ability to work fewer in-office distractions.

Rather than force the same expectations on remote and in-person workers, employers should embrace the differences and emphasize the workflow expected from in-person versus remote work days. Moreover, it’s vital to establish clear expectations and shared goals. This includes defining subjective terms such as appropriate response times, frequency of check-ins, preferred communication platforms, and when to use video conferencing versus messaging options.

2. Enhance communication and feedback opportunities.

One integral aspect of in-person work is the informal socialization that employees enjoy throughout the workday. Casual conversation helps foster organic relationships among team members.

It may benefit remote teams to reintroduce this element of socialization via video chats and other communications. A study by Canon specifically found that video plays a fundamental role in communication among hybrid teams. Eight in 10 people who turned on their cameras during virtual meetings felt more productive when others had their cameras on as well. Participants also reported that being able to share documents, images and videos during meetings (66%) and being able to see the other meeting attendees (58%) helped them interact with their colleagues better.

Additionally, informal gatherings like virtual coffee chats can strengthen bonds among hybrid employees. Digital water coolers, virtual lunches or informal coffee chats are additional strategies to foster camaraderie. Regular weekly staff meetings and comprehensive email updates help hybrid workers stay synchronized with the team and minimize feelings of isolation.

3. Promote equitable collaboration and hybrid meeting protocols.

It’s crucial to set clear communication protocols, both when in-person and working remotely. Online messaging tends to increase during hybrid work, so explicitly outlining when an email reply is necessary streamlines communication and prevents inbox overload for both employees and employers. Additionally, distinguishing between tasks that require in-person collaboration and those suitable for hybrid work is essential.

With the rise of hybrid work, team members now frequently join meetings from different physical spaces. Employers can ensure equitable participation by mandating that all team members log in using their own devices even when in the office promotes inclusivity of all meeting attendees. Alternatively, if individual devices are not feasible, establish processes that guarantee all employees remain included in discussions. This might include not discussing group matters after remote participants have left a meeting.

3. Recognize and promote employee contributions within your community.

Fostering a team mindset becomes increasingly vital when team members are not physically together. During in-person work, this is easily done through peer shoutouts during meetings. Employee promotion can be similarly achieved remotely by way of positive feedback and recognition of employees’ contributions through virtual means.

Employers can cultivate an atmosphere of appreciation by sending regular email updates about team achievements and praising their employees during virtual staff meetings either through chat boxes or by unmuting on calls, ensuring that both in-person and hybrid employees are included. It is also important to make sure that hybrid employees are not excluded from workplace activities that would ordinarily take place in person. Virtual birthday cards or other celebrations help ensure everyone feels valued and included, regardless of location.

Mentorship programs provide yet another straightforward approach to connecting employees. Whether conducted in person or through online platforms, these programs facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among employees at different levels within the organization.’

Ultimately, even employees who are not physically together can still form meaningful relationships with their coworkers and feel deeply connected to their organization. Keep your lines of communication clear and open to change. Consider offering employee surveys to collect continuous feedback and ensure employees’ voices are heard even when they’re not in the office and help your transition to hybrid work happen as smoothly as possible.

Best Money Moves is a mobile-first financial wellness solution designed to help dial down employees’ most top-of-mind financial stresses. As an easy-to-use financial well-being solution, Best Money Moves offers comprehensive support toward any money-related goal. With 1:1 money coaching, budgeting tools and other resources, our AI platform is designed to help improve employee financial well-being.

Whether it be retirement planning or securing a mortgage, Best Money Moves can guide employees through the most difficult financial times and topics. We have robust benefits options for employers, regardless of their benefits budget.

Our dedicated resources, partner offerings and 1000+ article library make Best Money Moves a leading benefit in bettering employee financial wellness.

To learn more about Best Money Moves Financial Wellness Platform, let’s schedule a call. Contact us and we’ll reach out to you soon.

Working Parents Need Support: Start with These 3 Helpful Benefits

Working Parents Need Support: Start with These 3 Helpful Benefits

by | May 8, 2024 | Blog

Working Parents Need Support: Start with These 3 Helpful Benefits. Learn how the right benefits can support struggling working parents. The right benefits strategy for your team improves quality of life and wellness.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be challenging for any employee, but it’s particularly tough for working parents. According to Ohio State University’s parenting report, as many as 66% of working parents are burnt out and want help managing their home and work lives. However, they lack a practical and affordable means of receiving this support.

On top of these demands, childcare costs have grown astronomically over the past decades. Families spend an estimated 27% of total household income on childcare costs, according to data from Care. When parents can’t compete with these costs, they may be forced to alter their career paths, reducing their working hours and delaying advancement to focus on their children.

Working parents make up a significant portion of the U.S. workforce — an estimated 40%, according to Glassdoor — and the unique challenges they face require thoughtful solutions. Employers can take direct action to support the parents on their teams with these 3 helpful benefits.

A fact about working parents who are struggling.

The 3 most helpful benefits for working parents

1. Offer working parents a break with on-site childcare services.

Working parents often rely on childcare services to care for their children while at work, whether it be daycare, babysitting or afterschool programs. However, since childcare costs have risen post-pandemic, many working parents struggle to find affordable childcare options. Without childcare, some employees may have to call out of work to care for their children.

Today, 1 in 5 parents with children under 18 cite childcare expenses as the leading source of their financial stress, according to NerdWallet’s 2024 Cost of Raising Children report. This isn’t surprising as 1 in 7 parents said they spend more on childcare each month than their rent or mortgage payments. Over time, this financial practice can lead to long-term financial insecurity for working families.

On-site childcare reduces working parents’ commuting time and childcare costs. Moreover, offering on-site childcare can help mitigate the anxiety that some remote and hybrid workers feel about returning to the office. Knowing their child or children) are close throughout the workday can provide comfort and peace of mind.

2. Provide childcare subsidies and discount benefits to your team.

Even for companies without the resources to offer on-site childcare, there are other ways to support parents in the workplace.

To help families afford the rising childcare costs, some companies have added childcare subsidies and discounts to their benefits package. For instance, some employers partner with local daycare, afterschool and childcare providers to offer employee discounts. Others have instituted reimbursement programs, where employees can be reimbursed up to a certain amount for childcare expenses.

Every workplace has its own employees with individual needs, so consider which subsidies and discounts resonate most with your workforce. Feel empowered to ask employees directly, either through anonymous surveys or live group discussions.

3. Help working parents anticipate and adapt to childcare costs with accessible financial education.

Over 20% of parents say they don’t want more children due to the high costs of raising a child, according to NerdWallet’s 2024 report. And 1 in 3 non-parents don’t want any children for the same reason. The costs of child-rearing go far beyond basic childcare expenses. Most families can expect to spend around $300,000 to raise a child from birth through age 17, according to estimates by CreditKarma and the Department of U.S. Agriculture.

Financial wellness and literacy benefits can help the working parents on your team to anticipate and adapt to these costs over time. Current and future parents can learn how to adjust their existing budget and support their new child through all stages of life — from preschool through college.

For instance, at some point, children will mature and no longer need childcare or babysitting. With the right education, parents can understand their options and make plans for their money once childcare is no longer needed, such as investing in a 529 college plan. Budgeting tools can help families prepare for large one-time expenses like a crib or stroller, while managing other household expenses. Families can even use these tools to build savings for long-term goals, like a child’s future college education.

Best Money Moves is a mobile-first financial wellness solution designed to help dial down employees’ most top-of-mind financial stresses. As an easy-to-use financial well-being solution, Best Money Moves offers comprehensive support toward any money-related goal. With 1:1 money coaching, budgeting tools and other resources, our AI platform is designed to help improve employee financial well-being.

Whether it be retirement planning or securing a mortgage, Best Money Moves can guide employees through the most difficult financial times and topics. We have robust benefits options for employers, regardless of their benefits budget.

Our dedicated resources, partner offerings and 1000+ article library make Best Money Moves a leading benefit in bettering employee financial wellness.

To learn more about Best Money Moves Financial Wellness Platform, let’s schedule a call. Contact us and we’ll reach out to you soon.

3 Things to Know About the Future of Work and Financial Wellness

3 Things to Know About the Future of Work and Financial Wellness

by | Apr 30, 2024 | Blog

Employee needs are changing which means benefits must follow suit.

To prepare for the future of work, make financial wellness a part of your benefits strategy.

New developments in benefits technology are reshaping the future of work. Over 85% of organizations surveyed in the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report identified increased use of new technologies as the trend most likely to drive growth over the next few years.  

With benefits technology constantly evolving, compensation alone is no longer enough to keep your workplace competitive for new hires. Employers must prioritize new technology and cutting-edge support programs if they hope to attract the best talent. 

Here are some of the most promising developments employers can expect from the future of work. We offer a special focus on the growing demand for employee financial wellness benefits.

A fact about the future of work and benefits.

1. Financial wellness tools will become central to the future of work.

Financial wellness tools are gaining popularity among employees of different backgrounds and income levels — and it’s not surprising why. The cost of living has increased steadily over the past few years. According to Forbes, more than a third of Americans struggle with their bills. Another 80% are living paycheck to paycheck.

However, most employers offer outdated benefits as a substitute for financial literacy. Around 98% of employers provide health coverage and 94% provide retirement planning support. Yet, these programs are not equipped to address some of the biggest employee pain points, such as high levels of student debt, the need for credit guidance, and the growing demand for elder care resources.

In PWC’s 2023 Employee Financial Wellness Survey, 73% of financially stressed employees said they would be attracted to another employer that cares more about their financial well-being. Financial stress affects everything from mental health to personal relationships. So, financial wellness is already becoming a must-have benefit. Its importance is only expected to grow in the coming years. Addressing this issue will be something the majority of employers simply cannot ignore. Financial wellness benefits provide the information and tools needed to combat complex financial hurdles. They empower your employees to take control of their finances.

2. The desire for flexibility and accessibility will expand to benefits options.

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic shifted the landscape of corporate work in the direction of flexibility and accessibility. Now more than ever, employees are looking for jobs that allow them to work how and when they want. A recent Upwork study suggested that 22% of workers in America will be remote by 2025. This change has been generally positive. In the same study, 56% of hiring managers claimed the shift to remote work has gone better than expected.

Flexibility in these environments also applies to employee benefits. Financial wellness benefits, for example, are fully customizable – meaning employees can choose the areas that are most pertinent to their situation. Whether someone is looking to pay off debt or learn about savings accounts, these benefits offer resources that support all levels of knowledge and income.

Personalization is the answer to making these benefits accessible and is a key component of the most effective financial wellness tools. According to a Vestwell study, employees hoping to save money are looking for highly tailored financial wellness solutions to solve their issues. For example, 74% of employees with student loans agree that they would be more likely to continue working for an employer that offered student loan-related benefits.

When it comes to financial wellness, the ability to personalize and answer specific questions is key to creating quality benefits that work. Flexible, effective and relevant benefits will improve your employees’ financial lives and improve productivity and quality of life in your company.

3. AI tools are an inevitable addition to the future of work.

AI tools have evolved greatly over the past few years to occupy almost every industry. As it continues to develop at such a significant rate, it’s difficult to imagine a future of work without significant AI involvement:

  • Artistic fields: AI has streamlined the creative process, assisting in the creation of music, art, writing and more.
  • Healthcare: AI helps eliminate human error in administrative work, providing a streamlined experience when distributing medication and making appointments.
  • Customer success: AI chatbots help meet consumer demand by answering client questions.

AI tools are expected to be just as valuable a tool for businesses. This is especially true when it comes to creating better benefits for employees. With AI, employers can evaluate their workforce’s demographics, health records and usage trends to create a benefits system that is best suited for each employee. These tools can be invaluable for HR, enabling them to shape their campaigns to accommodate employees’ needs and preferences.

Workers are consistently looking for ways to get their problems addressed without giving up autonomy. Giving them the tools they need will help your organization stand out in the job market and continue to attract top talent.

Choose an award-winning financial wellness platform for your employees

Best Money Moves is a mobile-first financial wellness solution designed to help dial down employees’ most top-of-mind financial stresses. As an easy-to-use financial well-being solution, Best Money Moves offers comprehensive support toward any money-related goal. With 1:1 money coaching, budgeting tools and other resources, our AI platform is designed to help improve employee financial well-being.

Whether it be retirement planning or securing a mortgage, Best Money Moves can guide employees through the most difficult financial times and topics. We have robust benefits options for employers, regardless of their benefits budget.

Our dedicated resources, partner offerings and 1000+ article library make Best Money Moves a leading benefit in bettering employee financial wellness.

To learn more about Best Money Moves Financial Wellness Platform, let’s schedule a call. Contact us and we’ll reach out to you soon.