- Conduct pay equity audits to identify issues and correct pay disparities as needed. Consider using the MIT Living Wage Calculator.
- Offer financial well-being programs that include the unique needs of low-income employees such as earning income before payday.
- Promote predictable scheduling/income for shift workers.
- Support access to emergency funds / advance pay in the event of a financial crisis.
- Two-thirds of low-wage workers lack access to paid sick days. It is key that employers support access to adequate paid sick leave and paid maternity/paternity leave for all employees.
As the situation in Ukraine evolves, businesses should be mindful of potential risks to their people, assets, operations, or supply chains in the region and globally. Marsh, as part of the Marsh McLennan family of companies, has created a page with information, tools, and resources related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Please visit the page for the latest information.
Employer Strategies
- Consider offering healthcare to both full-time and part-time workers.
- Tier premiums or deductibles based on salary to promote equity.
- Introduce coverage options with lower deductibles or lower coinsurance to promote healthcare utilization.
- Consider onsite or near-site clinics that include medical and mental health care for no cost or reduced cost-share.
- Introduce virtual medical and mental health care for no/reduced cost-share. This could help employees with/without benefits.
- Post information about clinics that serve the community for no cost or reduced cost.
- Post information about patient assistance programs for pharmacy and medical expenses.
- Support awareness of public programs such as food banks in the community, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC),and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
- Bring farmer’s markets on-site and offer employer-sponsored discounts on fresh produce.
- Offer healthy meal vouchers or employee free meals. USA Today reported that 67% of employees who received free food at work were also very satisfied with their employer.
- Provide public transportation vouchers.
- Share information about caregiver transportation programs in the community.
- Provide medical transportation vouchers to support employee well-being through services like Uber Health.
- Consider flexible work hours given transportation challenges, keeping in mind “a lack of transit options, particularly at off-peak hours, means that people who work irregular schedules often have no safe or affordable way to get to work.”
- Provide information about personal safety. This includes information about remaining safe at work, in the community, and at home (i.e., domestic violence).
- Consider covering emergency childcare for low wage earners. “The economic impact from being late or missing work because of the need to stay home to care for a child is quite large for these (low wage earner) households. You can see how a seemingly small disruption could snowball into larger issues that affect income, stress levels, and decisions.”
