Employee Participation

Employers are clear about the problems they want benefits to address, with one-third wanting to improve employee wellbeing and 30% wanting to provide competitive benefits packages.

Historically, benefit costs have been the most volatile component of compensation, often rising sharply during economic downturns.

One is cutting headcount and telling employees that the workforce will shrink. The other is investing in skills, certifications and manager training while insisting that its future is "people-led, tech-powered."

A beneficiary said he has had trouble collecting all of the benefits that should be coming from the converted policy.

Three-quarters of working parents say they know people who are leaving the workforce because of child care challenges.

The convergence of record layoffs and record business formations does not appear to be a coincidence. Data suggests these are connected patterns that could touch talent acquisition, workforce classification and internal communications.