Less than a third of employers believe they are providing a ‘great’ service for employees when it comes to HR and benefits technology, according to new research.
Mercer Marsh Benefits report found over half of these companies (55 per cent) said they provided an ‘average’ experience, with the majority failing to provide the seamless connected benefits experience that employees expect and is fit for purpose in the current working environment.
The report found a similar attitude among employees with just 21.5 per cent saying that had a ‘great’ user experience with employer-provided software.
Less than half of employees (47 per cent) believe this experience is the same when working virtually as in the office, raising doubts about how well technology and platforms support those working remotely.
Mercer Marsh Benefit partner and UK & Ireland regional leader Tony Wood says: “With widespread remote working increasing data security risk and impacting employee wellbeing, employers need to consider whether their existing benefit programmes and digital infrastructure are fit for purpose.
“As more employees continue to work remotely, supporting their wellness through engaging consumer-grade technology is crucial.
“Employers now have the perfect opportunity to provide digital wellbeing programmes that that are relevant to their workforce and that their employees will engage with.”
With more and more employees working remotely, the risk of data security being compromised is increasing. MMB’s survey shows that more than half (52 per cent) of employers believe their current procedures and processes with HR technology expose them to undue cyber risk.
Less than a third (28 per cent) of employees ‘strongly agree’ that they trust their employer with their personal data and only 15 per cent ‘strongly agree’ that they trust benefit suppliers with their personal data.
MMB’s research shows that prior to the pandemic, the top two HR objectives for employers were ‘enhancing employee engagement’ and ‘promoting employee health and wellbeing’, with more than two-thirds of organisations (70 per cent and 67.5 per cent respectively) citing these as ‘high priorities’.
Surprisingly, only (43 per cent) of employees ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that the benefits their employer provides makes them feel valued – a clear disconnect between employee and employer.
MMB partner David Dodd adds: “All this suggests clear blind spots for UK benefit programmes. To get the best value and impact from a company benefits programme businesses should start by reviewing what is currently in place.
“Firms should also ensure benefits platforms deliver value, have the right impact on their people, and are engaging. By tweaking and refocusing existing employee value propositions, reviewing current reward offerings and simply listening to employees, even the most subtle changes can make a difference.”
This research is in MMB’s new report: Reinventing reward for the ‘new normal’: managing risks and digitising benefits.
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