Your guide to financial wellness in 2025
Employee Benefit News
The leading information resource for the ever-changing HR and Benefits marketplace.
Happy New Year from Employee Benefit News . We're tackling your New Year's resolutions so you can lead a happier, healthier and more focused workforce this year.
GET THAT RAISE: Advocate for your worth, says Keith Spencer , career adviser at FlexJobs . Their survey showed 41% of the respondents were not satisfied with their compensation and 43% didn't get a raise or bonus in the previous year.
"A lot of people are uncomfortable or feel like a negotiation is a daunting experience," Spencer says. "You need to advocate for yourself because no one else will if you're not willing to do it."
Here's the first step, and how to prepare for a successful ask: How to ask for a raise
HIRE AN ADVISER: A third of Americans described feeling "hopeful" about their money in 2025, and they've already made significant strides to set themselves up for success. In 2024, the average saver put away $7,460, according to New York Life 's latest survey. Millennials saved nearly double that amount, banking $12,004. Baby boomers saved just $3,466. A financial adviser can help build confidence and help set up a strategy that really works. Here's why it matters.
PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED: When employees are faced with a financial crisis, the last thing they want to do is bring attention to the issue at work. Yet more than half of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to Bank of America , making saving for emergencies impossible. Emergency relief access can help employees when unexpected expenses hit hard.
"When an employee applies for grant money in an emergency, sometimes they're applying because [of] things that are really hard to talk about," says Catherine Scagnelli , head of marketing at employee relief fund platform Canary . "Removing that HR layer, where someone doesn't have to report to their boss or let their colleagues know what's happening, lowers the barrier for people who really need money to come and get it because they remain anonymous."
Here's how to support employees without judgement: Canary's emergency grants help employees stay financially afloat
Do you have a financial New Year's resolution? Share it in the comments!
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4wNo job. One income of under 50,000 coming in yearly. I have always brought more in. Stressed, depressedandtired. I'm a person who is always been independent. I have worked hard and have always give 100% in my career. I started from the bottom and work my way up. But realize that that was the best way due to the knowledge that I'll have. I am so ready to get back to my career and to offer the knowledge that I have to a company that is striving to grow their business. I have been through many companies that have been bought out by investors. And they downsize and combined.