The New Reality of Benefits: How Forward-Thinking Employers Are Managing Cost, Complexity, and Care in 2025
Healthcare costs are rising. Employee expectations are shifting. And the way organizations manage benefits is undergoing a fundamental reset. In “Strategically Managing Health and Wellbeing Costs in 2025,” WTW makes a compelling case for a more strategic approach to benefits. The most effective leaders today aren’t reacting; they’re reimagining. They’re using benefits to drive engagement, […]
How Financial Stress Is Driving Benefits Choices
“What does the price of eggs have to do with annual enrollment?” Mercer asked that question recently, and the answer is: more than you might think. With 70% of employees considered not financially healthy, many of your employees are currently struggling with the cost of housing, groceries, and everyday essentials. As open enrollment season approaches, […]
The Healthcare Cost Crisis is Growing – But Employers Aren’t Powerless
U.S. employers started this year expecting their healthcare costs to jump 8% — the highest increase in more than a decade, according to the Business Group on Health (BGH). Unfortunately, that expectation became reality. Even more concerning, BGH’s president and CEO said they don’t “anticipate trend abatement for 2026.” It’s no wonder that WTW’s 2025 […]
The Student Loan Squeeze on Employers Is Only Getting Tighter
The cost of student loan debt has always shown up in your workforce in the form of financial stress, reduced productivity, and increased turnover. But after the sweeping federal policy changes passed in early July 2025, the student loan landscape has shifted again. With hardship protections eliminated and millions of student loan borrowers already delinquent, […]
Brightside vs. Traditional Financial Coaching: What’s the Difference?
Financial coaching has become a staple in many employee financial wellbeing strategies, with nearly half of employers surveyed by EBRI saying they offer it. Yet many employers don’t recognize that this model is only suited for a small fraction of their workforce – the 30% of employees who are financially healthy. Keep reading to learn why […]
Tight Employee Benefit Budget? Prioritize Comprehensive Financial Support
Many benefits leaders are sharing the same reality right now: employee benefit budgets are tightening, economic uncertainty is high, and there’s organizational pressure to demonstrate clear, measurable ROI from every dollar spent. That’s why it’s critical to address one of the biggest drivers of poor outcomes across the board: financial illness. It causes employees to […]
Is Your Employee Hardship Fund Worth the Headache?
Hardship funds are built with good intentions, but they often provide too little relief for the financially struggling while adding too much administrative burden for employers. Read on to explore the hard truth behind hardship funds, and how Brightside Financial Care changes that with an innovative approach that delivers meaningful impact for employees and employers. […]