A sustainability toolkit for your workplace
Employee Benefit News
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THE BENEFITS OF GOING GREEN: Climate change has become yet another scary and often hopeless-seeming conversation. Yet it's one employers and employees should be prioritizing, as businesses can have an outsize effect on policies and practices that both help — and hurt — the environment.
No matter the industry or individual, the effects of climate change are expected to have an impact: Damage from natural disasters, for example, is expected to cost businesses $1 billion annually, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Additionally, employees stand to lose nearly $25,000 in wages due to extreme weather and the associated health risks, according to consulting firm ICF and Consumer Reports. Today, employees expect employers to take a stand on these issues, and make a vocal commitment in their efforts. Yet overall, employees are feeling disappointed.
"This is clearly something that is on the mind of employees, and if companies haven't picked up on that or are doing something about it, you're going to end up with a disconnect," says Sean Puddle, managing director for Robert Walters' New York offices. "You're going to drive a wedge between the company and the people, and have issues with attraction and company reputation."
Read more: A sustainability toolkit for your workplace
WOMEN AND THE GIG ECONOMY: Gig work has proven to be a great alternative to the traditional 9-to-5 job, but women are not entirely convinced of the viability of this as a career. At least not yet.
Currently, 47% of gig workers in the U.S. are women, according to data from Forbes, compared with 53% who are men. But the gap between the two demographics isn't due to a lack of interest from women, according to new data from employee staffing platform Jitjatjo, but from a lack of employee benefits. Thirty-nine percent of women considered that a significant deterrent when looking at gig work as a career option.
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"The gig economy is moving in the right direction in terms of having fair and equitable experiences," says Dominic Esposito, CEO of Jitjatjo. "But ultimately, a lack of diversity in any type of work, but especially in gig work which relies on diverse skill sets, can cause a significant disadvantage [when it comes to making progress.]"
DEALING WITH GRIEF IN THE WORKPLACE: It's easy for employees to share in their joyous occasions at work, but it's significantly harder to be open about moments of loss. The way organizations have traditionally treated death and dying in the workplace aren't helping to change that stigma.
More than 57% of Americans experienced a major loss over the last three years, according to a recent study from Amerispeak and WebMD. And yet, insurance company New York Life Foundation's recent State of Grief Report found that only 63% of respondents had dedicated time off specifically for bereavement, with just 47% receiving paid leave for such circumstances.
"Over the last few years more employers are looking across the spectrum of benefits as it relates to wellness," says Heather Nesle, president of New York Life Foundation. "There isn't much thought to the longer term consequences or opportunities to support employees beyond that initial incident."