12 Days of Benefits – Phone Checks and Sick Leave

On the 12^th day of benefits, the industry gave to me 12 minutes between phone checks.

As much as digital detoxes have been in vogue in recent years, the average American still checks their phone more than 120 times each day—that’s every 12 minutes. This trend may be changing the nature of interaction and distraction, but it also presents an opportunity for savvy employers looking to boost engagement with benefits. With this knowledge, HR departments should feel empowered to advocate for mobile-responsive technology to give employees access to benefits information with a single swipe.

On the 11^th day of benefits, the industry gave to me 11 states that mandate paid sick leave. As of 2019, 11 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 20 local jurisdictions have enacted legislation that requires employers to provide paid sick leave to eligible employees. States, legislators, and workers’ advocates are increasingly backing more equitable sick leave policies that aren’t limited to the traditional population of professional workers you might expect. Popular with employee and voter populations, employers should expect these laws to expand in the coming year and be prepared to incorporate their requirements into company policy.

On the 10^th day of benefits, the industry gave to me 10 days to hire a top candidate. Once a top job candidate is open to a new opportunity, they’re available to hire for an average of just 10 days. We’ve observed how the tight labor market of recent years has become overwhelmingly driven by the desires of candidates, rather than employers, and that means employers must get smart on how to hire more efficiently and decisively to reach the very best candidates.

On the 9^th day of benefits, the industry gave to me only 9% of US employers offering unlimited maternity and paternity leave—that’s according to statistics from CEB Corporate Leadership Council. Unfortunately, this low percentage is out of line with what we discovered in the 2019 State of Workplace Empathy study, in which 95% of employees reported that family benefits and flexible work hours are the top benefits that demonstrate a company’s empathy. Companies like Netflix and Amazon are leading the way here, but smaller organizations without those resources can still make an impact with flexible work hours, comprehensive health benefits and technology to support parents on the go.

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