Smarter benefits are leading to a stronger workforce. That’s the finding of a new Mercer Health on Demand 2025 survey, which reports that high-quality workplace health benefits continue to provide employees with a sense of security in their jobs while giving employers a competitive advantage.
Big Picture: Americans trust their places of work. When respondents were asked who they trusted to provide timely access to affordable, quality health care, respondents ranked employers as the most trusted, outpacing other private systems and government programs. As the needs of today’s workforce evolves, employers are uniquely positioned to build upon the existing trust that employees place in their organizations to adapt offerings that meet the needs of their workforce today and tomorrow.
Here’s how employer-provided coverage continues to shape a stronger workforce:
- Health is Security: As health care costs increase, financial security becomes more important. Mercer found the more benefits an employer offers, 88% of employees have more confidence in their ability to afford health care for themselves and their families.
- Health is Wealth: Employees value employer-provided coverage so much that nearly half of employees would forgo a 10% pay increase for more well-being benefits and 29% would do the same for improved medical care and coverage.
- Health is Personal: As health needs of the workforce continue to evolve, one thing is certain: there is a benefit to personalization. Mercer found that when employees can personalize their benefits package, 81% agree that these type of workplace plans meet specific needs and 79% agree these plans are as good – or even better – than those offered by other organizations, further contributing to the competitiveness of employers.
This study underscores why job-based coverage remains critical for both employees and employers. Workplace benefits have been proven to offer a strong sense of security and support within organizations. Employers increasingly recognize that providing comprehensive, high-quality care is not only vital for employee well-being, but also a strategic advantage in attracting and retaining valuable talent. The system is evolving to meet today’s demands by offering more personalized, responsive, and innovative services, allowing businesses to improve the resilience of their workforce and build more trust in employer-employee relationships.
The Protecting Americans' Coverage Together campaign is a coalition that includes the U.S Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Vermeer Corporation, the National Association of Manufacturers and Council for Affordable Health Coverage. PACT represents leading employer voices focused on strengthening employer-provided coverage and protecting the benefits that American families depend on for their health.
