The Best Employer Benefits to Look For

Jobless benefits are ending, the country is reopening, and employers are aggressively hiring. What does this mean for you if you’re looking for work?

According to CNBC:

• The American Rescue Plan offers enhanced unemployment benefits through Sept. 6.
• Roughly 3.9 million Americans will be affected by state decisions.
• Twenty-two states opted to end federal unemployment assistance — including aid for the long-term unemployed — in June or July. (Another four opted for an early end to a $300 weekly supplement to benefits.)

In an interview on CNBC, Paychex CEO Marty Mucci explains that businesses are anticipating that by September, childcare and jobless benefits should be sorted out. This could mean that employers are hoping to hire at record numbers.

Not only does this bring up challenges for employers during the hiring process, but for the millions of unemployed Americans returning to work. Your needs are now much different than what they were before the pandemic.

You’ll soon find the best employers offer financial wellness programs that contribute to your betterment. With benefits like on-demand pay and personal finance tools, you can take advantage of all the open positions and job listings to get closer to financial security in a time where nothing is a sure thing. 

So before you begin your job hunt, take some time to do some soul searching. Think about everything you’ve been through over the last year. What do I want? What do I need? Where do I want to work? With that in mind, here are 4 key components to look for when looking for your next employer.

Health

Health, particularly mental health, is a hot topic these days. We’re all stressed—it’s true—and a big factor of that is money-related. They say money can’t buy you happiness, but it definitely keeps the lights on. 

In today’s world, you shouldn’t have to pay to use your money. By avoiding things like credit cards, late payments, minimum balance fees, or overdraft fees, your financial health increases. 

On-demand pay solutions like Payactiv’s Earned Wage Access (EWA) provide an alternative to payday loans by letting workers access earned wages that haven’t yet been paid out. 

When you don’t have to wait to get paid, you don’t have to wait to pay your bills. There’s no fear of late fees, no need to borrow from anyone, and you can afford to pay for emergencies, like babysitters or car trouble.

So consider an employer that cares about your financial wellness. This is what Earned Wage Access helps to accomplish: Escape financial stress and uncertainty. Create room for dreams, and live the life you’ve earned.

Flexibility and choice

During your job search, consider this: Wages have levels, structure, and timing. Besides competitive pay, look for an employer that lets you control when you get paid. Because when payday is on your schedule, that’s when your money can work for you. 

Additionally, the best companies will also offer flexibility and choice over your schedule to combat their recruitment challenges. When an employer lets you own your schedule, you feel trusted, and you’re more confident to succeed at work. And the buck doesn’t stop there – customers are happy with outstanding service, and business thrives. 

The Payactiv benefit gives you the money you’ve earned, and you can even use your earned wages directly for certain services like Uber rides or Amazon Cash. And another perk is that when you choose to direct deposit your paycheck to the Payactiv Visa^® Card*, you can get paid up to 2 days early.¹

* This is a Payactiv Visa Prepaid Card issued by Central Bank of Kansas City, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. 

Control

Having options puts your time and money in your control. For you, that doesn’t just mean control over your schedule but also over your bank account. 

With smart saving and budgeting tools, Payactiv provides guidance on spending and saving decisions. SmartSave and SmartSpend take into account your income, taxes, expenses, and any savings goals to calculate how much is safe to spend and how much is safe to save. Begin setting money aside toward their goals and watch your savings grow each month. 

Payactiv even automates tips and mileage payouts by making them cashless. This way, you don’t need to wait for regular payroll processing to access your tips, and you don’t have to worry about carrying cash. Your tips become available in the app as soon as your employer submits your data.

When companies put your financial wellness into your own hands, you can say no to borrowing and yes to dignity.

Recognition

Most people want to work. The thing is, they’ve been through a lot.

With fewer employees on the payroll during COVID, you may find yourself working longer hours – sometimes 50-60 hours. That can seriously burn you out. But is it all worth it? You want to do things that provide purpose and work for a company that acknowledges and rewards your efforts.

That’s exactly what the Payactiv Connect communication platform is designed for. Now, staff (new and old) can stay connected to work with company announcements and direct messaging. Pick up extra shifts and get access to your earned wages as soon as a shift ends.

As you transition to a regular routine, strong communication can greatly impact your engagement and effectiveness at work. 

Good employers encourage you to reach for the stars. When you feel that you matter, you’re more likely to enjoy your work, stay longer, and succeed. Whether it’s competitive pay to increase your net worth or employee benefits that support your financial plan, it helps you feel appreciated and much less like an expendable commodity.