Almost three-quarters of benefit-eligible Americans are more likely to work for an employer offering voluntary benefits, according to new Voya survey
The challenge is that while many workers are well-intentioned, the reality is that voluntary benefits can be confusing.
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today findings from a new consumer survey revealing that nearly three-quarters of employed individuals who are benefits eligible (70%) agree that they are more likely to work for an employer who offers employee-paid voluntary benefits — including those like critical illness, hospital indemnity, disability income or accident insurance. However, when it came time to take action during their most recent open enrollment period, Voya’s survey also revealed that less than half of benefit-eligible employees (49%) actually took advantage of these voluntary benefit coverages offered by their employer.1
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused American workers to realize that their health and wealth needs are inextricably linked. As a result, more individuals are reconsidering the value they place on their workplace benefits when it comes to employment decisions — especially in today’s competitive job market,” said Rob Grubka, CEO of Health Solutions, Voya Financial. “The challenge is that while many workers are well-intentioned, the reality is that voluntary benefits can be confusing. Often, it takes time for employees to properly educate themselves or get the help they need to feel comfortable selecting workplace benefits they likely have never enrolled in before.”
Interestingly, this disconnect between intent and action was highest among Millennials. While 78% of surveyed working Millennials who are benefits eligible agreed they were more likely to work for a company who offered critical illness, hospital indemnity, disability income or accident insurance, less than half of Millennials (49%) actually enrolled in these types of voluntary benefit coverages offered by their employer during their most recent open enrollment period.1
“When you consider Millennials are between 26 and 41 years old, which are prime years for starting a family and advancing their careers, time is often in short supply for most of these employees who are juggling competing work-life priorities,” added Grubka. “As a result, it’s not surprising this generation ranks highest in not taking advantage of these voluntary benefit coverages given their stage of life — even though the pandemic has shined a spotlight on their value in helping individuals build a secure financial future.”
Voya’s survey also revealed that nearly one-third of American workers who are eligible for benefits (31%) admitted they do not fully understand any of the employee benefits they selected during their most recent open enrollment period. With inflation at record highs, the results also show that nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) agree their money does not go as far as it used to go.1
“It’s clear that, given the uncertainty of today’s environment and the complexity of workplace benefits, American workers are looking for help to maximize every hard-earned dollar. As a result, they are increasingly turning to a trusted source for support and guidance — their employer,” said Andrew Frend, SVP of Strategy and Product, Voya Health Solutions. “A previous Voya consumer survey showed that more than 7-in-10 of employed Americans who are benefits eligible (73%) are interested in support and guidance tools that help them understand how much money to put aside for retirement, emergency savings and health care expenses.2 For employers and benefits providers, this presents a tremendous opportunity to work together to provide their workforce with resources and digital tools that they can use to better understand and act with more confidence when making decisions to help advance their health and financial well-being.”
Voya has recently launched several digital innovations to help Americans holistically plan for their financial wellness needs, with more features scheduled throughout 2022. These resources include: Voya’s myHealthMoney digital assistant; Emergency Savings fund solutions; budget calculator; Spanish-language experience; and the Voya Learn digital educational platform, which offers live and on-demand sessions on a variety of topics, including saving for emergencies, investing concepts and market volatility, retirement income planning, debt management and more.
As an industry leader focused on the delivery of health, wealth and investment solutions to and through the workplace, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its mission to make a secure financial future possible for all Americans — one person, one family, one institution at a time.
1) Based on the results of a Voya Financial survey conducted January 4-5, 2022, on the Ipsos eNation omnibus online platform among 1,005 adults, featuring 443 working Americans and 293 eligible for benefits, aged 18+ in the U.S.
2) Based on the results of a Voya Financial survey conducted December 17-18, 2020, on the Ipsos eNation omnibus online platform among 1,005 adults, featuring 492 working Americans, and 294 eligible for benefits aged 18+ in the U.S.
About Voya Financial®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a leading health, wealth and investment company that provides products, solutions and technologies that help Americans become well planned, well invested and well protected. Serving the needs of 14.3 million individual, workplace and institutional clients, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $4.2 billion in revenue in 2021 and $739 billion in total assets under management and administration as of Dec. 31, 2021. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute; the No. 1-ranked financial services firm among Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for three consecutive years; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.
Insurance products are issued by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (Minneapolis, MN) and ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York (Woodbury, NY). Within the State of New York, only ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York is admitted, and its products issued. Both are members of the Voya® family of companies. Product availability and specific provisions may vary by state
About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multispecialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com.
Ipsos is a separate entity and not a corporate affiliate of Voya Financial®.
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