Sequoia's Employee Experience Benchmarking Report Reveals Evolution of Employee Benefits as Workforce Needs Shift

Greater Emphasis on Holistic Wellness and Work-Life Integration

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Jun 21, 2021, 06:00 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequoia Consulting Group®, a tech-enabled consulting and services company, today announced the findings from its 2021 Employee Experience Benchmarking Report, which offers the most comprehensive benefits and employee experience insights from leading people-first companies. With more than 1,000 data points on topics such as global healthcare benefits, people policies, diversity, equity and inclusion, and talent practices, the Employee Experience Benchmarking Report helps companies assess and compare their benefits and people strategies to unlock improved performance.

This year's report illustrates a trend toward increased value in family-planning options, mental health solutions, additional paid holidays, and enhanced retirement benefits. While the report typically examines similar benefits and employee experience trends from the previous year, this year's report includes an expanded section on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The impact of the global pandemic and racial injustice awareness created new challenges and opportunities for employers to evolve their employee experience. Companies are investing resources in DEI programming at record levels to meet employee expectations as the most diverse generations in history (Millennials and Gen Z) quickly fill up the workforce.

"People-driven companies seek this data as a way to evaluate how they compare to their peers," said Michele Floriani, Chief Marketing Officer at Sequoia. "Beyond providing the report, our Sequoia consultants work one-on-one with our clients to analyze the information that is most relevant to them and shape their benefit programs and HR policies to stay competitive for talent."

Significant findings that demonstrate a changing workplace culture include:

Wellbeing
Between the stressors of the global pandemic and a changing workforce, companies are investing more in mental health and family-friendly benefits.

There was a 50% growth in the number of companies strategically focused on employee emotional health in the past year
44% of companies offer fertility benefits and 9% of companies plan to offer fertility coverage in the next 12 months
64% of companies offer advanced fertility benefits like IVF and 22% of companies offer egg preservation/freezing — additionally, surrogacy and adoption benefits are emerging in popularity, with 9% of companies offering one or both benefits
33% of companies have "forced vacations" and 20% have annual company shutdowns

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The inequitable effects of the pandemic and spotlight on racial justice brought a renewed focus on DEI. Companies are investing further in DEI recruitment and internal affinity groups.

70% of companies have rolled out new DEI programming over the last year to create a more inclusive culture
96% of companies plan to expand their talent outreach strategies to build a more equitable workplace
40% of companies have Employee Resource Groups, which is a 9% increase from last year

Retirement
Supplemental benefits are no longer considered nice perks. Retirement benefits are becoming more competitive, with additional companies offering 401(k) matching and automatic enrollment.

56% of companies utilize automatic enrollment for 401(k) plans, trending up significantly from five years ago (33%)
Nearly half (45%) of companies offer 401(k) matching to employees, with 13% of companies planning to add or increase their match in the next 12 months
More than a third (37%) of companies have 401(k) plans that include ESG (environmental, social and governance) funds, of which 31% added the funds in the past year

"Each data point is interesting on its own, but a holistic examination of the trends tells a story that companies are being more mindful of how employee experience and flexibility can be successfully integrated into their policies and culture," Floriani said. "Clients are telling us, as they come out of the most challenging year in a generation, that changes initially brought on by temporary necessity now make for good permanent solutions."

The 2021 Employee Experience Benchmarking Report, now in its sixth edition, is available to participating companies with insightful Sneak Peeks available to the public. To download the Sneak Peeks and learn more about the Benchmarking Report, visit: https://www.sequoia.com/benchmark/

About Sequoia Consulting Group
Sequoia Consulting Group is a tech-enabled consulting and services company that provides benefits, HR, payroll, and risk management solutions for people-centric employers with 20 to 20,000 people. The Sequoia People Platform centralizes workforce data and helps companies navigate complex issues so they can maximize their investment in people whether they are in office, distributed, or global. For two decades, Sequoia has been working with companies to balance the needs of their business with the needs of their people.

Sequoia Consulting Group has offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Tempe, and Bangalore. Visit Sequoia.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to learn more.

SOURCE Sequoia Consulting Group