Published
November 10, 2025
Retirement may seem like a distant goal, but it plays a vital role in ensuring long-term financial security. Understanding the evolving landscape of retirement benefits is critical for both employees and employers as America’s workforce plans for the future. From comprehending the evolving retirement regulations to offering competitive benefits to attract and retain talent, businesses that prioritize retirement readiness strengthen both their workforce and their bottom line.
Chantel Sheaks, Vice President of Retirement Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, shares five key insights businesses and employees should know about retirement.
1. ERISA remains the foundation of retirement security
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), passed in 1974, still serves as the cornerstone of retirement protections. It ensures employee benefits are safeguarded by strict fiduciary standards, provides employees rights to ensure their retirement benefits are protected, and streamlines plan administration.
“One of the reasons it's very important to businesses is the preemption provision. This means you have one law that governs your employee benefits instead of having a patchwork of 50 laws plus the District of Columbia,” Sheaks said. “What we are really fighting for at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is to ensure that that preemption stays so that businesses can provide good and affordable benefits to their employees.”
2. Employers need relief from excessive litigation
While ERISA gives employees important rights, recent “copycat” lawsuits have burdened well-intentioned employers with costly legal defenses. The Chamber is working with policymakers and industry partners so companies can focus resources on providing quality benefits for their employees instead of fighting in court.
“We’re working together with a number of coalitions to come up with common sense solutions. We’re coming up with solutions that will protect participants but will also make sure our employers are not defending against frivolous lawsuits,” Sheaks said.
3. Secure 2.0 is changing how businesses support employees
Recent legislation known as Secure 2.0 includes provisions designed to expand retirement coverage and simplify plan administration. One key update: employers can now match employee student loan payments as if they were 401(k) contributions, which is helping younger workers start saving earlier.
“What this provision allows you to do for your employer to match your student loan.” Sheaks said. “So, the money that you pay on your student loan, they deemed that to be the money contributed to the retirement plan so that you actually get the match."
4. Employees should engage with their benefits early
Sheaks urges workers to take the time to understand their benefits during open enrollment and make the most of options like health savings accounts and 401(k) matches.
“There's been some research showing employees spend more time planning their vacation than looking at their benefits,” she said. “I know vacation is important, and we'd like to plan for that, but looking at what the right benefits are and taking advantage of what your employer is offering, I think unfortunately many of us don't look at that.”
Contributing even a small percentage toward retirement—and increasing it over time—can make a significant difference in long-term savings. For complex questions, Sheaks recommends that employees use financial planning resources offered through their employers.
“Your HR department is actually there to help you. Ask the HR department what might be right for you,” she said.
5. The Chamber’s role in strengthening the retirement system
From employers and service providers to asset managers, the U.S. Chamber represents every part of the retirement ecosystem. This unique perspective helps shape policies that make it easier for businesses to offer strong retirement benefits and for employees to access them.
“At the end of the day, what we need to do is make it easier for employers to provide this coverage for their employees,” Sheaks said “We need to lessen the administrative burden and especially for the small employers, we need to make this a turnkey solution so that they can concentrate on their businesses and provide the good benefits that their employees deserve.”
The Bottom Line
The Chamber is committed to supporting its members in addressing retirement-related challenges and enhancing retirement security for employees.
At the end of the day, retirement policy is about partnership: employers who want to provide meaningful benefits and employees who invest in their futures. Businesses are essential partners in ensuring employees can save and plan for the future. The Chamber is working to make the retirement system stronger, simpler, and more secure for everyone.
About the author
Jen Scungio
Jen Scungio is the Senior Director, Editorial and Digital Media at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
