The Employee Voice: More Security, More Flexibility, More Choice

The 2017 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey examines the role of benefits in the employee value proposition.
Submitted by Willis Towers Watson

The Willis Towers Watson Global Benefits Attitudes Survey (GBAS) examines the role of benefits in defining and differentiating today’s employee value proposition.This latest biennial edition of GBAS analyzes more than 31,000 employee responses in 22 markets.

Key Findings

  • Benefits matter more than ever. Employees’ long-standing desire for greater security continues to intensify.
  • Employees - particularly younger employees - want more benefit choices. Those with choice and flexibility today are twice as likely to feel their benefit program meets their needs.
  • In many countries, employees are increasingly concerned about their finances, both immediate and long term.
  • More than one-fifth of employees expect to still be working at age 70 or later. Over 60% say their employer retirement plan is their primary means of saving for retirement.
  • Employees look to their employers for support in improving their health and well-being, and becoming more financially secure.

The survey explores the extent to which benefits individually and collectively shape employees’ actions; how closely they align with employees’ employment and lifestyle priorities; and their links to stress, absence, presenteeism and work engagement. It also underscores the importance of addressing benefits to ensure employee retention, a critical goal during an acquisition. 

The research focuses on four main aspects of employee attitudes and how they affect the benefit deal: financial well-being; retirement expectations; health and well-being; and benefits preferences. 

Download the report.