Strengthen Your Workforce! In a Tight Labor Market, How to Attract and Retain the Best Employees!

The information contained in this article is not intended as legal advice and may no longer be accurate due to changes in the law. Consult NHMA's legal services or your municipal attorney.

Have you experienced challenges recently when trying to hire and retain quality employees? If so, you are not alone!

New Hampshire has the lowest unemployment rate – 1.7% – of any state in the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. For every one unemployed Granite Stater there are three unfilled positions, reports the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI).  While low unemployment is good news in some ways, it also supports what many employers already know – there just aren’t enough people looking for jobs to fill all the open positions, and competition for the best employees is getting fierce. Attracting and retaining top employees is a critical concern for communities striving to maintain a skilled and dedicated workforce.

The Secret to Attracting and Keeping Top Employees

One of the most important factors in attracting and keeping top talent is a comprehensive benefits packet that includes not only medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage but also disability and life benefits. Here’s why:

• One in four American adults will become disabled before reaching retirement age, according to the Social Security Administration.
• Here in New Hampshire, sickness and disability are the number one reason unemployed individuals give for not working, beating out other factors such as caring for a family member, lack of transportation, or getting laid off, according to the NHFPI.
• People with a disability are at increased risk of living below the poverty line.
• Losing a loved one who is also the family breadwinner can be financially – as well as emotionally – devastating.

By providing life, long-term, and short-term disability coverage for your employees, you are giving them vital lifelines that could keep them and their families afloat in times of crisis. Such safety nets not only protect their financial well-being but also show your employees you care about them, which can lead employees to be more dedicated and ultimately more productive.  

The Facts of Life Coverage

The death of a loved one can leave a huge hole in families. In addition to the emotional impact, when the deceased is a breadwinner, their death can create financial struggles for the family that can last a lifetime. Life coverage can make a huge difference by ensuring an employee's loved ones are financially protected in the event of the employee’s death.

By offering life coverage, you demonstrate your concern for the long-term security of your employees' families. This sense of security can extend to the employees themselves, promoting a feeling of stability.

Understanding Disability Coverage

Long-term and short-term disability coverage are key components of a comprehensive benefits package.

• Long-term disability coverage provides employees with financial support if they are incapacitated due to illness or injury for an extended period. This coverage offers assurance to employees and their family members that they will not be left in a dire financial situation should the employee face an unexpected health challenge.
• Short-term disability coverage is provided for shorter periods of incapacity and ensures that employees continue to receive a percentage of their income during recovery.

Investing in comprehensive benefits for employees demonstrates a leadership team’s commitment to them and to the community as a whole. Employees who feel cared for and protected are more likely to remain loyal and engaged. For municipal employers, the positive reputation that a community gains as a supportive and empathetic employer can bolster its reputation as a desirable place to live and work.

In this tight labor market, communities are defined not just by physical boundaries, but also by the opportunities and benefits they offer. Prioritizing life, long-term and short-term disability coverage is a strategic investment that pays dividends for employees, their covered family members and the community. It defines “Win – Win.”

David Salois is the Member Relations Representative at HealthTrust.

Consider Adding Life and Disability Coverage to Your Benefits Package

Adding coverages to your benefits package may be easier and more cost-effective than you anticipate.  For more information, a proposal, or to review your current benefit strategy, contact your HealthTrust Benefits Advisor (if you are currently a HealthTrust Member) or David Salois, HealthTrust Member Relations Representative at dsalois@healthtrustnh.org | 603.230.3382. 

Sources:

Social Security Administration:  https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityfacts/facts.html

National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29444777/

New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute: https://nhfpi.org/resource-type/fact-sheets/   and https://nhfpi.org/resource/granite-state-workers-and-employers-face-rising-costs-and-significant-economic-constraints/

US Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/hhp/hhp54.html

National Conference of State Legislatures: https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/state-unemployment-rates