80% of Workers Fear Surprise Medical Costs — Are Your Benefits Doing Enough?

Hey HR Pros!

As healthcare costs climb and financial anxiety rises, employees are wondering how a single medical bill might throw off their entire financial plan. Equitable’s latest survey reveals that 80% of Americans feel unprepared for surprise medical expenses, and younger generations are turning to TikTok and AI before they turn to HR.

It’s a wake-up call for how we educate, communicate, and position voluntary benefits in today’s workforce.

Upcoming In This Issue:

• 📊 Why Your 'Director' Might Not Really Be One: The Data Behind Title Inflation

• New Data | 80% of Workers Fear Surprise Medical Costs — Are Your Benefits Doing Enough?

• 🧭 Burnout, Stalled Growth, No Hope: Gen Z Is Sending HR a Message

• 🎙️ Featured Podcast: Reference Checks in Recruitment: Is There Any Point? [23 Mins]

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📊 Why Your 'Director' Might Not Really Be One: The Data Behind Title Inflation

In my work with HR teams, it’s become increasingly clear that a growing number of employees are starting to question whether a new title actually means professional growth — or if it’s just a clever way to dodge compensation increases.

But as titles expand, so do the risks — from internal equity issues to cultural disconnects.

Key Insights

• 💼 91% of workers believe employers use titles to avoid raises, suggesting widespread skepticism about how promotions are tied to compensation.

• 📈 Use of inflated job titles rose 35% since 2018, with 54% of organizations in 2023 saying they do it to attract talent.

• 🏗️ Lack of structured job architecture invites bias, making internal promotions more vulnerable to favoritism and equity issues, according to McLean & Co.

• 🌱 Experts recommend linking titles to development, not just retention — a positive culture and career growth remain proven tools to keep talent.

read the full 356-word article here

📊 New Data | 80% of Workers Fear Surprise Medical Costs — Are Your Benefits Doing Enough?

When a single unplanned medical bill can upend someone’s entire financial plan, the ripple effects reach straight into the HR department.

In conversations around open enrollment, I've noticed more employees treating benefit selections as a once-a-year nuisance — until an emergency changes everything.

Let’s break it down:

Key Insights

• 💥 80% of Americans say a surprise medical bill could derail them, and over 25% would struggle with an expense under $1,000.

• 📱 37% of Gen Z use TikTok, Reddit, or YouTube for benefits info, signaling a shift away from traditional HR communication channels.

• 📉 40% of employees lack confidence in understanding voluntary benefits, yet over 80% value them highly once educated.

• 🏢 73% of small businesses say voluntary benefits show employee care, but 27% find them too complex to confidently offer.

read the full 676-word article here

HR LOLs

🧭 Burnout, Stalled Growth, No Hope: Gen Z Is Sending HR a Message

I’m seeing more Gen Z employees entering the workplace not with fresh energy, but already running on empty.

For HR, the message is that support can’t just be offered in theory — it has to be built into experience.

Key Insights

• 📉 49% of Gen Z say their jobs offer no growth, and 42% have already quit a role because of it — with more planning to follow.

• 📚 43% of Gen Z are juggling full-time jobs and education, yet only 32% feel supported by employers in their learning goals.

• 🧠 40% say burnout blocks them from learning new skills, directly impacting readiness for advancement or promotion.

• 🏫 76% cite cost as the top barrier to continued education, even as demand for new skills like AI grows across industries.

read the full 979-word article here

🎙️ Featured Podcast: Reference Checks in Recruitment: Is There Any Point? [23 Mins]