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How Much Do Benefits Really Matter To Employees?

This article was written by Selerix.

Our new Selerix Employee Benefits Survey has the answer: 73% say benefits matter as much (or more) than salary. But the real story goes deeper. From skipped care to missed workdays, the data shows how unclear, impersonal, or confusing benefits can quietly erode engagement and loyalty.

HR teams are investing heavily in benefits. Now it’s time to ensure those investments deliver clarity, personalization, and trust. Explore the key findings from our first-ever survey and see how you can close the gap between the benefits you offer and the value employees actually feel.

Selerix Employee Benefits Survey: 73% Say Benefits Matter As Much (or More) Than Salary

What if the difference between an employee staying or leaving their employer wasn’t about pay, but about how clearly they understood their benefits?

Benefits are meant to make life easier. Yet for too many employees, the opposite is true. They’re stressed, confused, or left guessing about coverage. That’s why we launched our first-ever : to give employers, brokers, and carriers a clearer view of where the benefits experience breaks down, and how to fix it.

Behind the Numbers: Selerix Employee Benefits Survey

The survey results confirm what we’ve long believed at Selerix: benefits are more than a line item or a plan design. They’re emotional. They shape whether employees feel supported, valued, and heard — or stressed, frustrated, and disengaged.

When the experience works, it matters:

Employees satisfied with their benefits are 5x more likely to stay and 3.5x more likely to trust their employer.
Those who feel their benefits are personalized are 3x more likely to report high satisfaction and confidence in their choices.

But when the experience is confusing, the consequences are just as striking:

39% delayed or skipped care because they weren’t sure what was covered.
1 in 5 missed work to resolve a benefits issue.
1 in 3 regret their enrollment decisions.

The Gaps Employers Can’t Ignore

The good news is that employers are investing heavily in benefits, trying to do right by their people. But our survey shows that dollars alone don’t guarantee value. The real gap is in clarity, personalization, and communication.

For example:

Communication isn’t connecting. While 74% of employees read benefits emails, only half say the messages actually drive action, and just 16% used a decision-support tool during enrollment.
Compliance education is falling short. Only 39% of ACA-eligible employees and 33% of COBRA-eligible employees said the guidance they received was clear. These aren’t just blind spots; they’re compliance risks.
Benefits shape job decisions. 73% of employees say benefits matter as much or more than pay, and 38% have declined a job because the package didn’t measure up.

Closing the Loop on Benefits

The good news is, every one of these challenges is fixable. With smarter technology, clearer communication, and more personalized support, employers, brokers, and carriers can transform the benefits experience into one that employees actually trust and use.

Download the full Selerix Employee Benefits Survey and discover how to make benefits personal, clear, and effective for every employee.