New HRE Editor on the Benefits of Covering Benefits
I never set out to be an employee benefits reporter and editor—does anyone?!—but nearly nine years in, I can’t imagine a beat I’d enjoy covering more.
In my years writing about the industry (I’ve spent the last few years as editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News), I’ve seen a lot of action—everything from the passage of the Affordable Care Act to fluctuations in employer-sponsored healthcare to ongoing fears over healthcare costs. More recently, it’s been about an exciting new crop of offerings. Dare I say that benefits are in and cooler than ever?
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Though table-stakes offerings like healthcare and retirement remain vital components of a benefits package, a hot job market and an increased focus on employees’ overall wellbeing and work-life balance are bringing more attention to such benefits as student loan repayment programs, generous paid leave programs, caregiving and tuition perks. (And it’s making my job a whole lot of fun!)
How much does this matter? Nearly everyone is an employee, and changing benefits are changing the workplace. This multifaceted industry is having a direct impact on millions of workers’ lives, happiness and financial security. Benefits are at the heart of a job, and smart HR executives are taking note.