The Hartford’s Future of Benefits Study

Fostering a Healthy and Productive Workforce

Our Future of Benefits study delivers new insights into employee benefit trends and the evolving needs of the U.S. workforce. We believe it can help companies design benefit programs that support their employees and create an inclusive culture.

Generational Perspectives on the Workplace From Boomers to Zoomers

The rapid entrance of Generation Z workers (Gen Z) to the workforce as many baby boomers are retiring has changed the composition of the workplace and increased complexity for employers. Our latest data shows the attitudes, expectations and needs of Gen Z workers are notably different from millennials, Generation X and baby boomers in many facets of the employee experience.

In parallel to the evolution of the employee experience, employer expectations and human resource roles are also in a state of transformation. Although the role of employers has become more complex, they remain committed to providing employees with benefits and services that help support their personal and professional needs.

The Hartford’s fifth annual Future of Benefits Study, which includes national surveys of U.S. employers and workers, provides fresh insights on how to meet the needs of the evolving, multigenerational workforce. The study explores:

Workplace well-being, productivity and engagement
Addressing unmet employee benefit needs and education gaps
Optimistic personal finance outlook amid macroeconomic challenges
Supporting mental health in the workplace
Evolution of paid leave

3-in-5

U.S. workers are experiencing some level of burnout at work, which is highest among Gen Z workers.

75%

of Gen Z workers say strong personal connections at work are important, which is higher than other generations.

62%

of employers say their day-to-day responsibilities have increased in the past few years.

“The expectations and needs of Gen Z workers across many facets of the workplace are notably different from other generations. As the number of next-generation employees surpasses baby boomers in the workplace, understanding these differences and taking a multigenerational approach to workplace benefits is crucial to shaping the future of work.”

– Jonathan Bennett, head of Group Benefits at The Hartford

Creating an Inclusive Workplace

Fostering an inclusive workplace is one way that businesses can address the labor shortage and retain talent. In an op-ed in Human Resource Executive, Bennett encourages business leaders to address barriers that often exclude people with disabilities from the workforce.

Access Resources To Create a Stigma-Free Workplace

The Hartford’s Future of Benefits Resources

View research and press releases about The Hartford’s Future of Benefits study and how our insights are helping employers navigate the changing benefits landscape.

Access Additional Future of Benefits Resources

Benefits Insights

Stressed call center employee looking anxious while working at her computer.

A Pulse Check on Mental Health in the Workplace

A workplace with a healthy culture around mental health can make employees happy and increase productivity. Mental Health Awareness Month is a good time to check if your company is meeting your employees’ mental health needs.

Compliant, Collaborative and Creative Workplace Accommodations

Recent federal laws and regulations have expanded protections for pregnant and nursing employees to clarify how employers should support and accommodate them.

Injury Prevention: Proactive Ways To Support Worker Wellness

Ensuring new hires can perform essential functions is key to keeping them safe, yet a high percentage of work-related injuries occur during the first year of employment. Learn what employers can do to avoid this issue.