CHICAGO, Aug. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE:
AON) reports that 40 percent of hospitals surveyed have accelerated
hiring to meet surging demand in medical services following
COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, according to the firm's
16th annual Benefits Survey of Hospitals released today.
Another 36 percent plan for normal hiring and 24 percent are being
cautious, delaying or issuing a hiring freeze, according to Aon, a
leading global professional services firm providing a broad range
of risk, retirement and health solutions.
The findings provide a stark contrast to cost-cutting measures
hospitals put in place in 2020 during the pandemic lockdowns, when
54 percent instituted furloughs, 45 percent laid off workers, 15
percent suspended 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan contributions
and 10 percent announced voluntary separation programs.
"The top priority in 2020 was to mitigate rising costs for the
employer—understandably, given the financial shock that health
systems were reeling from," said Sheena
Singh, senior vice president of Aon's national healthcare
industry practice. "Now, the pandemic has exacerbated a labor
shortage that could impact patient care delivery, delay attainment
of organizational objectives and accelerate burnout among clinical
staff."
Top concerns expressed by health system employers include:
- employee burnout/workforce resiliency (77 percent);
- employee work/life balance (76 percent);
- financial stress for employees (75 percent); and
- benefits to support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (73
percent)
The report shows average health benefit expenses per hospital
employee per year are projected to grow 2.7 percent, from
$14,466 in 2020 to $15,133 in 2021, as hospitals ramp up to
accommodate deferred medical services from 2020.
Seventy-seven percent of hospitals aim to pay 76 percent or more
of their employees' health care costs and 23 percent offer a
no-cost health plan option to some segment of their employee
population. Eighty-five percent of health systems surveyed provide
a discount to employees via plan design to access their own
facilities and providers.
Hospitals also seek to reward employees with the following
benefits:
- 94 percent offering tuition reimbursement programs;
- 69 percent offering flexible work options (an additional 30
percent are considering adding this option);
- 66 percent offering cash-out vacation policies;
- 45 percent offering adoption benefits;
- 36 percent offering gender-affirming surgery;
- 33 percent offering on-site daycare;
- 32 percent offering student loan repayment plans (an additional
40 percent are considering this option);
- 31 percent offering back-up childcare; and
- 23 percent offering back-up elder care.
"Attracting and retaining talent remains a top priority and
health systems have prioritized benefits as a mechanism to reward
their workforce," Singh added. "This is a trend that will continue
with a shortage of qualified health professionals and rising demand
for health care services, as these organizations seek to build a
resilient workforce in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Aon's 16th annual Benefits Survey of Hospitals
surveyed hospital employers between April and June 2021. The survey compiles results of
participating benefit plans for more than 2.4 million health system
employees representing more than 1,150 hospitals across the
U.S.
For more information and to access the report, visit
https://insights-north-america.aon.com/healthcare/aon-highlights-2021-benefits-survey-of-hospitals-report.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) is a leading global professional services
firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health
solutions. Our 50,000 colleagues in 120 countries empower
results for clients by using proprietary data and analytics to
deliver insights that reduce volatility and improve
performance.
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Media Contact
Robert
Elfinger
+1 312 381 0071
Robert.Elfinger@aon.com
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SOURCE Aon plc