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BRI – Adapting Benefits to The Changing Workforce

Jun 28, 2021, 2 Minute Read

While COVID-19 has pushed many companies to offer greater flexibility around where employees work, more adaptation is required to meet the needs of today’s evolving workforce. Companies must consider not just a hybrid or fully remote work model, but also their benefits package.

With home, health, and work stress mounting, employees want more support from their employers to manage the changes and stress from COVID-19. By providing that support and enhancing benefits packages with Specialty Accounts, employers can better meet the employees’ needs, attract and retain talent, and drive business recovery.

Specialty Accounts

• Can be designed to cover a wide variety of expenses.
• Allow employers to set eligibility limits, how the account is funded, and whether funds roll over, etc.
• Enable a maximum spend per person over a certain period (e.g., one month) to control costs.

Workplace Ideas Employees Will Love

Cover Employee Work Essentials

• Reimburse employees’ internet expenses. Reimburse the full bill regardless of price or set the maximum reimbursement amount to the standard cost in their area for a basic plan (e.g., $50).
• Reimburse other essential job-related expenses such as electricity and office supplies.

Design an Alternate Commuter Benefit Program 

With fewer employees commuting every day, switching to a flexible benefits provider can be beneficial with a hybrid work model. Or use a Specialty Account to cover other commuting-related expenses.

Specialty Account plan options outside the scope of a pre-tax commuter benefits plan:

• Reimburse for the cost of gas to/from work.
• Create a generalized micro-commute/last-mile program.
• Design a walk/bike to work incentive program.
• Reimburse for bicycle sharing programs.

Wellness/Well-Being

Wellness Accounts are one of the most popular Specialty Account programs, and for a good reason: a healthy workforce = reduced medical costs and higher productivity. Consider expanding beyond the standard gym/fitness reimbursement. Create a general well-being account and cover:

• Subscriptions to fitness apps (Apple Fitness, Headspace, MyFitnessPal, etc.).
• Mental health services, including mental health/therapy apps.
• Weight-loss meal delivery kits (e.g., Nutrisystem).

Meal Services

Having everyone in the office makes it easy to treat employees to something delicious. Whether it’s early-morning breakfast, sweet treats, or a full catered lunch, it’s a great way to show employees you care.

With meal delivery services, employees can choose what they want to eat and from whom. Here are some options:

• Reimburse for meal-kit services (HelloFresh, Blue Apron, etc.).
• Cover the costs of one or more food delivery platforms (DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, etc.).
• Create a small business food plan to encourage employees to shop local.
• Provide a general meal-delivery credit each month for all the above.

Adapting to the changing workforce can be easy with Specialty Accounts. To learn more, visit Benefit Resource Inc.

Contact us at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com for assistance when you’re ready to enroll a group in a BRI Specialty Account.

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

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