Remote Workers Struggle Most with Financial Anxiety and Benefits Selection as 53% Approach a Financial ‘Breaking Point’

New MetLife survey shows on-site/hybrid workers have better financial health and 63% view benefits as an investment in their future

While the majority of workforce prefers remote work over going to the office, MetLife’s annual open enrollment survey found location may impact much more than just the daily commute.

MetLife’s new survey found that over half of the remote workforce (55%) are highly anxious about their finances (vs. 46% of hybrid and on-site workers) and that this group spends more time worrying about their benefits (55% spent over one hour per week vs. just 37% of on-site and hybrid employees).

“Benefits play a major yet often overlooked role in employees’ overall financial health. A lack of understanding of benefit options is only compounding the financial insecurity remote workers feel today,” said Bradd Chignoli, senior vice president, Group Benefits at MetLife. “Benefits can provide financial stability in times of economic turbulence and, when used the right way, are a tool that can even lighten employees’ financial burdens and anxiety.”

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As the workforce continues to change post-pandemic, meeting employees’ diverse needs – including location – is a growing challenge. MetLife’s survey indicates potential gaps in communication to the remote workforce.

Two-thirds of remote workers (65%) say that a better understanding of open enrollment would help make them feel more financially secure. Potential gaps exist in benefit education for these employees. Consequently, remote employees:

• Are 2x more likely to say they enrolled in the wrong type of benefits last year
• Require more information to make the right benefit choices (57% vs. 47% of hybrid and on-site workers)

MetLife’s data also finds that employees who understand and actively utilize their benefits are more loyal, thus proving beneficial for employee retention. Three in five fully remote workers (61%) say their employer’s benefits are a significant part of what’s keeping them at their company, and this is even higher for work-from-home caregivers with children under 18 (72%) and millennial/Gen Z workers (67%).

The state of an employee’s financial well-being is often directly linked to their benefits usage. In fact, 43% of all employees say their benefits have helped them out of financial difficulty this year, and 44% say they have helped improve their overall financial health.

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“We’re at a critical moment in the employee-employer relationship. As we look to build more inclusive cultures and further support today’s workforce – including how and where our employees work – benefit communication is vital,” said Jenn Kischell, vice president, Workforce Engagement at MetLife. “In today’s volatile economic environment, ensuring workers understand and use their benefits is more important than ever for employees’ well-being, as well as overall retention.”

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