These are the only work benefits employees care about post-pandemic

It often takes a major event to change people’s minds about what is and isn’t important to them. In terms of what employees want for work benefits, the coronavirus pandemic is that catalyst.

What people value from an employer has dramatically changed in the last year and a new survey reveals the only work benefits people now want.

MetLife recently released its annual US employee benefit trends study that included 2,500 interviews with benefits decision-makers and influences at companies, while 2,651 full-time employees were interviewed to gauge what expectations are moving forward in the work world.

The workplace in 2021 is changing

Beginning now, businesses around the country are starting to understand the long-term effects of the virus, and how it will impact work for the future. The new: working from home, flexible hours, protective precautions in place; the old: working five days in a physical office, open-floor plans.

The long-term implications affected by the pandemic remain murky, but it’s becoming more clear that employees have an idea of the changes they wanted to see made, and what really matters to them.

There was a time shortly before the pandemic where businesses were iffy on remote working, but the pandemic quickly silenced those worries, which favors employees as they navigate how they want to work, while finding the right work-life balance.

Here are a few things that employees want to see in the future of work.

Safety first

This isn’t really a surprise, but employees expect their employers to enhance safety to protect them and their families. Fifty-one percent of employees said that employers should take a greater role in safety and protection in part of safety being more of a priority than ever before.

How safety at the office plays out will likely require plenty of social distancing and mask wearing, but it could also be something that influences candidates when taking a job.

Sixty-two percent of employees said that employee benefits are more important now due to the pandemic; that’s something businesses should listen to.

Businesses have started to adapt to the new demands of the workplace. Creating more spaced seating, requiring mask wearing, and enhancing ventilation are all positive steps in the right direction.

How well-being is hurting productivity

We’ve all just about burned out from burnout, the mental burden due to working remotely and working remotely and working remotely. The average American experiences burnout by the time they are 32. That’s a problem, isn’t it?

Well-being is being threatened during the pandemic. Over a third of workers said they feel stressed while working at least half the time, while 34% said they feel burned out while working in the same duration. Compared to 2020, burnout is up — a 25% jump since April 2020. As a result of burnout increasing, productivity is down — the number of employees who say they feel productive has dropped 6% since last year.

Part of the problem could be that employers aren’t reading their employees well enough. Nearly three in four employers said they believe employees are better off than they are. That alone seems to be the start of the disconnect.

Employees said they are worried about their financial health, mental health, social health, and physical health, according to the survey.

Flexibility is good — but how do we collaborate?

Remote working has been a breath of fresh air for those that never were able to have a morning routine. It’s created unique work patterns for workers that doesn’t revolve around sitting in an uncomfortable work chair for eight hours a day. You can literally work from anywhere, but there are some drawbacks.

Collaborating over Zoom can be frustrating, just as sending endless Slack messages back and forth can create timing issues and even contribute to frustration.  Businesses and employees will have to figure that out, especially if flexibility is going to remain moving forward.

Forty-two percent of workers said collaborating with coworkers has become more difficult since the start of the pandemic, the report said. Nearly half of workers are working outside their normal work hours before the pandemic, which poses a challenge for employees to find a groove that works.

Seventy-six percent of employees said they want remote work and more flexible schedules in the future, according to the study. Unfortunately for those wanting changes in the future, employers think otherwise: 90% of employers said they expect to return to pre-pandemic working arrangements once they can.

Benefits are changing

Finally, businesses are beginning to rethink their investments in employee benefits.

Eighty percent of employers are increasing benefit communications, the survey said.

Why increase communication? Because employees feel heard. Ninety-nine percent of employees said they are more likely to feel valued or appreciated when their benefits are easier to understand, while 76% said it will make them feel successful, and 41% said it will make them more likely to be productive.

Non-traditional perks that interest employees were the following:

• Increase paid leave or paid time off (80%).
• Insurance benefits for retirees (79%).
• Guaranteed retirement income options (79%).
• Remote work, flexible schedules, or fixed weekly hours (76%).
• Financial stipend for office set-up and running costs (71%).
• Setting boundaries on working hours (69%).
• Telehealth coverage (68%).
• Professional development credits (66%).
• Caregiver benefits (62%).