Many valuable services and support for employees are overshadowed by discussions around contributions or network changes. Additionally, open enrollment coincides with a busy time of year for most employees, both personally and professionally. When benefits are only communicated once, employees may forget what is available to them. To create successful benefit strategies in 2026, employers can consider:

Establishing a single source of truth, it's important to ensure information about benefits is easy to find and for employees to reference materials.
Using the right communication modalities to reach your people, whether that's email, text, calls, etc. For example, if employees in the field don't rely on emails, they may not see the message in time.
Communicating about employee resources in the context of total wellbeing, and educating employees on physical, mental, and financial wellbeing topics.
Using technology that allows you to measure the reach and impact of your communications, helping employers to continually refine their approach.

Engaged and thriving employees are good business. In fact, happiness increases employee productivity by 12%. Employers can improve employee satisfaction and total wellbeing through policy and organizational changes.
According to OneDigital's Employee Value Perception Study, having flexibility over where they work was a top driver of overall happiness at work. Other examples of policies or culture initiatives that are often perceived as high value, include leadership and management training, feeling a sense of belonging, and feeling a sense of social connection at work.

Offer financial guidance

Just as financial constraints are top of mind for employers, employees are also burdened with the rising cost of daily living and economic uncertainty. Finances are the number one stressor for employees and significantly contribute to mental health conditions and workplace productivity. Savvy employers are offering employees financial wellbeing support in the form of individual education and guidance, budgeting tools, and planning.

Instant Insights /

Measurable cost-saving solutions are the future of benefits

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