By Andrew Curtis
The year 2020 has brought along so many surprising twists and turns in so many aspects of our lives. Our work lives are not exempt. Thankfully, employers everywhere quickly got with the program, implementing new benefits to their healthcare packages. Things that were once not covered like mental healthcare and access to retirement tools are now widely available to employees. Stay informed of what you have rights to and notify your lawyers at Wyolaw Law Firm if you think your employee rights have been violated. Here are some surprising employee benefits you probably did not know you had access to.
Adjustable Paid Time Off And Sick Leave
Because of the looming pandemic, employers are having to rework their leave policies to accommodate more paid time off as well as give more flexibility around working hours. A new act called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed in March. This act holds employers accountable for ensuring their employees get two weeks paid sick leave so that they can rightfully care for themselves or their family members who have contracted the virus. Some companies have taken it a step further, permission 12 weeks of paid time off so employees can look after their children’s virtual learning.
More Childcare Benefits
With schools not allowing to hold sessions in-person, that has forced many employees who are also parents to monitor their children’s virtual learning. For some parents, this is an additional 27 hours spent per week. Some major companies like JP Morgan Chase have expanded their childcare benefits to include tutoring, emergency childcare support, and virtual support groups. This is great because it all plays into keeping their employees energized and ready to take on the daily work tasks. If employees are too busy trying to run their household while working from home, they are going to be tired out and ineffective.
Mental Health Benefits
Employees are juggling a lot at once, especially since most companies have transitioned to either partially remote or fully remote. This adds another level of stress and anxiety. That is why many companies have expanded their mental health benefits as a way to offer support to their employees who are challenged at balancing their mental health. Costs for things like telehealth resources and meditation apps are being included in some benefits packages. Some companies have even gone so far as to offer free health benefits to their employees.
Financial Wellness Benefits
Companies are finally starting to see their employees as people and not just cogs in the machine. The pandemic has humanized a lot of their workers because many have suffered a substantial amount of financial hardship. Employers recognize how difficult times are and are doing something about it. From benefits like early wage access, automated savings programs and financial education resources, companies are doing more to provide other forms of financial support during these challenging times. Some companies have also provided their employees with financial literacy resources to help them better manage their money.
COMMENTS