More than half (52 per cent) of U.S. full-time employees said the health benefits offered by their employer are unaffordable and 47 per cent said the same benefits aren’t worth the cost, according to a new survey by Alight Solutions.
The survey, which polled more than 2,000 employees, also found time constraints (40 per cent), transportation challenges (28 per cent) and lack of a trusted physician (28 per cent) are preventing employees from accessing health benefits.
Read: U.S. employers expecting health benefits costs to rise 4.7% in 2022: survey
Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of part-time employees and a third (34 per cent) of full-time employees don’t have access to basic health and retirement benefits, as well as significant percentages of employees who identify as LQBTQ2S+ (48 per cent), Hispanic (47 per cent), Asian American (42 per cent) and Black (40 per cent).
“In recent years, companies have increasingly made diversity, equity and inclusion a key priority,” said Alison Borland, executive vice-president of well-being strategy and solutions at Alight, in a press release. “Employers have a tremendous opportunity to move the needle on creating a culture of belonging by providing greater access to benefits, and wellbeing programs that speak to the needs of their employees.”
Read: Employer health benefits cost trends to rise 8.1% globally in 2022: survey