For most of the country, daylight savings time has caused us to advance our clocks. And each year that happens, it reminds me that employers are likely already planning for their next open enrollment period. This is the time for you as an employer to assess your current employee benefits to align them more closely with employee needs. Well-thought-out benefits packages also send a strong message that you care about your employees' physical, mental and financial wellbeing, an important factor in recruiting and retaining talent.

The annual HSA Bank Health & Wealth Index^SM, which examines trends in consumer financial, physical and mental health, indicates that beyond a paycheck, benefits packages continue to play a large role in whether employees, especially Gen Z'ers now in their early to mid-20s, stay with an employer or seek a new job in pursuit of better benefits. The Index also indicates that Americans continue to be engaged in their health and wealth decision-making.

Your benefits team can help increase their engagement as you begin to work on updating your company's benefits for the next open enrollment period. More than ever before, employers have unique options and tools at their disposal to provide unique benefit options to fulfill employee's needs. Here are some of benefits you should consider when designing an overall package that keeps your company competitive in recruiting and retaining talent: