Media Feature
Smarter Benefits Spending: OneDigital's Wes Cowen in HR Executive
Why Precision Beats Generosity: Wes Cowen in HR Executive on Value Perception and Cost Containment
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Article Summary
As employers face mounting pressure to contain benefits costs without sacrificing talent strategy, precision matters more than ever. OneDigital's Wes Cowen, featured in HR Executive, shares why the most effective benefits strategies are built on understanding what employees actually value — not one-size-fits-all offerings. Drawing on OneDigital's employee value perception research, Cowen highlights the costly disconnect between what employers think employees want and what they actually need. His advice for HR leaders: make smarter, more targeted investment decisions that drive real impact for both employees and the business.
COST CONTAINMENT HUB
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EMPLOYEE VALUE PERCEPTION STUDY
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As large employers like Deloitte and Zoom make headlines for scaling back benefits offerings, HR and benefits leaders across the market are facing a familiar tension: how do you contain costs without eroding the culture and talent strategy you've worked hard to build?
It's a challenge OneDigital knows well. In a recent HR Executive feature, Wes Cowen, National Practice Leader for Employee Benefits, weighs in on what separates organizations that navigate this moment effectively from those that don't — and why the mid-market and SMB space offers a useful playbook for employers of all sizes.
The piece centers on a core idea: the most effective benefits strategies aren't built on generosity alone, but on precision. Knowing exactly what employees value, understanding which costs are predictable versus volatile, and building flexibility into offerings so they evolve alongside an employee's lifecycle with the organization — these are the hallmarks of a benefits strategy that actually works.
That precision starts with closing the perception gap. OneDigital's research has found that employers often believe they're investing in the right benefits for their workforce — but those offerings frequently don't reflect what employees actually want or need. It's a costly disconnect, and one that becomes increasingly hard to course-correct once benefit decisions have been made.
"Part of winning the war for talent is offering a comprehensive total reward package. And that comes from understanding what employees value and HR informing senior leaders of that — so decisions can have the most significant impact."
For employers navigating cost-containment pressures today, Cowen's message is clear: the answer isn't simply cutting or preserving benefits across the board — it's making smarter, more informed decisions about where investment creates the most impact for employees and the business alike.
Read the full HR Executive article here: Big Firms Are Cutting PTO. Why SMBs May Not Have To
Ready to build a smarter benefits strategy? Start with our Cost Containment Hub or explore the research behind the perception gap in OneDigital's Employee Value Perception Study.