CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.,
Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Mental health, modified school schedules, and more leave
requests are some of employers' biggest challenges heading into the
Fall. Many companies made accommodations to make their business and
their employees more resilient for what's ahead, according to new
research from employee benefits provider Unum (NYSE: UNM) among
more than 400 companies in August.
"It's no surprise mental health concerns are mounting," said
Rob Hecker, vice president of Global
Total Rewards at Unum. "Companies that use accommodations, mental
health benefits, and virtual solutions will be better equipped to
weather the storm."
Mental health tsunami looms ahead
- 85% of employers are concerned with employees' mental health as
the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
- Three out of five employers have plans or offerings to
specifically address employee mental health.
- More than half (58%) of employers saw an increase in the use of
mental health benefits during the pandemic, and two out of three
companies expect an uptick in the Fall.
Modified school schedules mean new accommodations
- Nearly nine out of ten (87%) employers predict modified school
schedules will be a challenge for employees.
- Top impacts employers anticipate include employee productivity,
increase in leave requests, shifting employee workloads due to
employee absences, and mental health.
- More than half (57%) of employers are making specific
accommodations to help employees balance work with modified school
schedules.
- Top accommodations include flexible work schedules (76%),
full-time work-from-home arrangements (58%), reduced work hours
(48%), childcare services (39%), paid leave (29%), among
others.
COVID-19 shapes a new enrollment experience for
employees
- Nearly half (47%) plan to change the way they communicate about
employee benefits. Most of this shift involves increased online
materials and virtual meetings.
- Three-fourths (76%) of employers will offer virtual group
meetings, half (52%) will offer online educational materials, 42%
will offer virtual one-to-one meetings with benefits counselors,
and a quarter (26%) will offer a virtual benefits fair.
To learn more about Unum's latest Employer Insights Report,
including tips and best practices for future-proofing your business
against these challenges, visit Unum HR Trends.
About Unum
Unum Group provides a broad portfolio
of financial protection benefits and services through the
workplace, and is the leading provider of disability income
protection worldwide. Through its Unum US, Unum UK, Unum Poland, and Colonial Life businesses, the
company provides disability, life, accident, critical illness,
dental and vision benefits that protect millions of working people
and their families. Unum also provides leave and absence management
services that streamline the leave experience for employers and
employees, and stop-loss coverage to help self-insured employers
protect against medical costs. Unum reported revenues of
$12 billion in 2019 and paid
$7.5 billion in benefits.
For more information, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and
LinkedIn.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/employers-brace-for-mental-health-crisis-301134948.html
SOURCE Unum Group