MetLife 7th annual MetLife study of Employee Benefit Trends

With the significant challenges facing the U.S. economy many companies are facing their own difficult challenges in providing their employees with the best benefit options available.

The 7^th annual MetLife study of Employee Benefits Trends provides some significant insights that can help benefit professionals make positive choices in the face of economic change.

The study indicates that employees faced with new economic realities place a greater value on their benefits. In fact, 40% of employees say that benefits play an important part of their decision to remain with their employer. As they assume more responsibility for their well being and are attempting to take control of their finances, employees are looking to the workplace for support.

While employers realize that benefits are important, they underestimate how much their employees value their benefits. Few employers are addressing one of their employees greatest concerns – retirement.  51% of employees surveyed have expressed interest in access to financial planners for retirement advice and 44% have expressed an interest in retirement seminars. 


Employees place retirement planning at the top of their list of concerns, while employers place it considerably lower on their list of benefit strategies. Gaps such as financial planning and voluntary benefits offer opportunities for you to improve benefit effectiveness by responding to employee priorities and get the most of your benefit dollars.

 41% of those surveyed indicated that they view their benefits as the foundation of their financial safety net. Many feel ill prepared to deal with unexpected life events such as income loss due to disability, eldercare or premature death. 

No matter the age of your employees, preparing for long-term care needs is at the forefront of their concerns. It is no wonder that 43% said they are concerned about caring for aging parents and the need to provide for their own long-term care needs when 45% of American households are caring for an adult family member or loved one.

Employees lack confidence and seek planning resources. Employers can be instrumental in helping their employees strive for and meet their personal and financial goals by providing access to a financial and retirement planning firm for guidance and advice.

Consider offering voluntary benefits to close this gap. 40% of employees are highly in favor of more voluntary benefit options but only 17% of employers are offering more voluntary benefits.

You as an employer have the opportunity to help alleviate their long-term care concerns with a cost-effective long-term care program with a wide variety of voluntary benefit options to fit the needs of your workforce.