11 Aug BENEFITS FUTURIST AND HR KEYNOTE SPEAKER: THE FUTURE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
The best employee benefits futurists, keynote speakers and experts analyze trends, both current and emerging, to understand the changing landscape of workplace benefits. So why are these thought leaders such popular headliners at meetings, conferences and tradeshow events? The way top employee benefits futurists tell it, the increasing focus of employers on offering more or enhanced perks, and promoting them at get-togethers, can be attributed to several reasons, including…
War for Talent: In many industries, there’s a fierce competition to attract and retain top talent. A robust benefits package can make a company stand out and be more appealing to potential candidates – an area of expertise where employee benefits futurists can often prove additive.
Employee Retention: Benefits play a vital role in retaining employees. High turnover rates can be costly for businesses, both in terms of finances and loss of institutional knowledge.
Employee Wellness and Productivity: Studies show that employees who are physically, mentally, and financially well are more productive. By offering benefits that cater to these needs, employers can improve overall organizational productivity.
Generational Shifts: As Baby Boomers retire and more Millennials and Gen Z individuals enter the workforce, employers recognize that these younger generations have different priorities and values, such as work-life balance, mental health, and continuous learning opportunities. In fact, this is a trending subject among leading employee benefits futurists and keynote speakers lately.
Societal Trends: Awareness of mental health, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and environmental responsibility have grown. Employers are keen to align their benefits packages with these broader societal values to be seen as progressive and attractive to potential employees.
Adaptation to Remote Work: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a massive shift to remote work, making employers rethink benefits that cater to a remote or hybrid workforce, such as home office stipends or flexible working hours.
Evolving Employee Expectations: Employees’ expectations have shifted over time, with many now expecting a broader range of benefits that support not just their work but their overall well-being.
Economic Considerations: Sometimes, say the best employee benefits futurists, it may be more cost-effective in the long run for a company to invest in preventive wellness programs or continuous learning opportunities than deal with the consequences of neglected health or outdated skills.
Brand and Reputation: Companies are aware that their approach to employee benefits reflects on their brand. Positive perceptions can help in attracting not just talent, but also customers who prefer companies that treat their employees well.
Legislative and Regulatory Changes: Sometimes, the expansion of benefits can be in response to or in anticipation of new labor laws or regulations.
Feedback and Engagement Surveys: Many companies regularly engage with their employees to gather feedback on what benefits they value most, leading to continuous iteration and improvement of benefits offerings.
Perhaps the way to look at it is that, per employee benefits futurists, the evolving nature of employee benefits is a combination of changing societal norms, economic imperatives, business strategies, and shifting workforce demographics and preferences. Companies that proactively address these changes are likely to be more successful in both recruitment and retention.
