Post by Rain

Your employees aren't skipping their 401(k) because they don't care about retirement. They're skipping it because they can't afford to take home less money this Friday. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of private industry workers had access to a defined contribution plan in 2024. Only 50% participated. That gap isn't an education problem or a communication problem. It's a cash flow problem. The CAPTRUST 2026 Financial Wellness Survey found that 62% of employees report moderate to severe financial stress affecting their productivity, physical health and mental health. When you're choosing between making rent and contributing to an account you can't touch for 30 years, the retirement account loses. Most benefits programs try to close the 401(k) gap with better onboarding or cleaner plan design. Those things matter at the margins. What actually changes behavior for hourly workers is financial stability at the base: access to earned wages, spending visibility and overdraft prevention. Employees who receive that kind of support are 34% more likely to be on track toward their long-term financial goals, per CAPTRUST. The benefits stack has to work from the ground up. https://lnkd.in/dxgkfhnD #EmployeeBenefits #FinancialHealth #401k #HRStrategy #WorkforceWellness #EarnedWageAccess