How to achieve equitable employee benefits in 2020 and beyond

The easiest and most effective way to turn empathy into (benefits) equity is to offer opportunities for choice and personalization. (Image: Shutterstock)

For employers, the notion of “equity” holds far more weight today than it did just six months ago. The pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in the workplace, creating a unique set of challenges for every employee, whether that’s juggling work with homeschooling, caring for aging parents, or navigating remote work difficulties.

While employers have traditionally approached benefits offerings as one-size-fits-all package solutions, this approach no longer works in a world where everyone is confronted with their own set of challenges. Traditional benefits packages assume all individuals have the same or similar needs and experiences, but this is far from the truth. Our challenges are so differentiated, in fact, that some companies have decided to opt out of performance reviews this year, realizing that the stress caused by this unique situation may inadvertently introduce unconscious bias in the process.