Change Is No Longer at a Manageable Pace
In my many years of managing employee benefits and wellness programs, there was a fairly manageable pace of change. Clients could reasonably prioritize different options and issues throughout the year. In many cases, they could take more time before making a final decision.
There are more health and well-being issues facing employees than ever before. We’re certainly discussing these with clients, and in some cases, they require changes to the benefits plan itself. However, many of these challenges can’t be solved by a plan change alone.
What’s needed instead is a combination of responses from the employer—something that truly shows how much they care about their people and their families.
Family Well-Being Impacts Employee Well-Being
It’s also important to emphasize that the well-being of an employee is directly tied to the well-being of their family. Whatever impacts a spouse, partner, or child absolutely impacts that employee—emotionally, mentally, and even physically.
A Real-World Example: Eldercare
Here’s one example we think is worth your time and attention. Many of us are dealing with aging parents. In some cases, we’ve become the primary caregiver to one or both parents—while still working full time.
If you’ve experienced this, you know the time and stress it brings to the entire family. So how do we cope? Is there a course we can take? Are colleagues openly sharing ideas and tips about caring for mom or dad?
What if we’re also managing our own health issues or still raising dependent children? There seems to be a timing overlap: aging parents need more help just as our young adult children are going through stressful life phases of their own.
It’s Not Just Eldercare
Employers need to plan for a response to these issues. And it doesn’t always have to be eldercare.
It could be many things:
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Living with substance use disorder
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Supporting a child with anxiety or depression
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Navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment
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Facing the ongoing challenge of obesity and efforts to reach a healthy weight
These aren’t theoretical. They’re very real and very common in today’s workforce.
Time to Respond with Care
It’s time to act. Employers have to go beyond the traditional model of “the plan pays the claims.” In many cases, what employees really need is support—through education, awareness, and help navigating the healthcare system. They need to know their employer cares, and they need tools that support them and their families in meaningful ways.
What’s Your Health Issue?
So what’s the biggest health or well-being issue in your workplace? It might be clear, or you may need to gather some data to find out. Either way, the first step is recognizing what your people are facing.
At Thorpe Benefits, we’re ready to help you build programs and tools that show your employees—and their families—that you care.
Written by Roger Thorpe
President, Thorpe Benefits