{"id":89186,"date":"2019-01-03T11:40:53","date_gmt":"2019-01-03T17:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/?post_type=insight_posts&p=89186"},"modified":"2025-10-02T15:20:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T20:20:42","slug":"popular-employee-benefits-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/business\/popular-employee-benefits-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The future of employee benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Defined as the non-salary compensation workers receive from their employers, employee benefits are often paramount for job recruitment, retention, and engagement. In fact, 78 percent of workers may remain with or leave an employer based off of their employee benefits package, a 2018 study<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

Clearly, it\u2019s important for businesses to offer the right employee benefits. But the \u201cright\u201d benefits are different for each company and team. This is why industrial and organizational (I\/O) psychologists often specialize in evaluating and understanding the best employee benefits packages for businesses. In this role, I\/O psychologists can help improve retention, engagement, and productivity.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering what the future of employee benefits may look like, you\u2019re not the only one. A background in I\/O psychology<\/a> can help you determine company-specific benefit plans. But for the business world as a whole, here are some employee benefits trends you can expect to see becoming more popular.<\/p>\n

Increased student loan assistance<\/h3>\n

By 2020, 65 percent<\/a> of all jobs will require postsecondary education and training. This incredible statistic means many employees entering the workforce will also have student loan debt. As more and more professionals begin their careers with existing debt, employee benefits will likely shift to include greater student loan assistance opportunities.<\/p>\n

The move toward this employee benefit is already clear. A 2018 study<\/a> found that 78 percent of employees with current or future student loan debt seek student loan repayment as a key employee benefit. To successfully recruit and retain employees, we may see more businesses structuring their employee benefits packages to meet this demand.<\/p>\n

Access to wellness amenities<\/h3>\n

In the era of the Google workplace and a greater emphasis on health, it\u2019s no surprise that future employee benefits may include improved wellness amenities. But beyond the mood-boosting benefits of physical activity and healthy foods, more than 60 percent<\/a> of participating employers found that wellness programs reduce a company\u2019s healthcare costs. By increasing access to wellness benefits, a business can improve its profit margins.<\/p>\n

So, what are some examples of wellness amenities? A background in I\/O psychology can help business owners determine which are most appropriate for them, but general options include:<\/p>\n