USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

SEQUOIA CONSULTING GROUP

Employee Experience
Benchmarking Report
2017

Employee Experience
Benchmarking
Get the full
REPORT OVERVIEW report. Join the
benchmark.
To request a copy of the full report,
please sign up to participate in the
2018 benchmarking survey at
www.sequoia.com/benchmark
To learn more about our program,
contact benchmark@sequoia.com
 USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT 2017–2018 SAMPLER
USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

About the Report

Each year Sequoia Consulting Group surveys leaders in finance and
human resources about the investments their people-first companies
are making to impact the employee experience. The Employee
Experience Benchmarking Report dives into best practices and trends
in the areas of domestic and global benefits, employee wellbeing, HR
policy, and 401(k) retirement plans. Our goal is to provide a valuable
tool to inform your strategic decisions around hiring the best talent
and building a happier, healthier workforce.

The 2017 report compiles data collected from over 1,000 survey
participants at 771 U.S. companies, 82% of which are in the tech
sector.

About the Overview

This overview gives you a quick glimpse at the types of data and
insights available in the full report, which is packed with over 55
pages of competitive goodness. To request a copy of the full 2017
report, please visit: www.sequoia.com/benchmark

Get the full report. Join the benchmark.

To request a full copy of the 2017 report, sign up to participate in the
2018 benchmarking survey at www.sequoia.com/benchmark
To learn more about our program, contact benchmark@sequoia.com
USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

Domestic Benefits Employer covers

Employer covers
percentage of
100% of premium premium for Employer covers
Employers take on the brunt of for at least
one plan
base plan with
option to buy up
percentage of
premium Other
medical plan costs < 50 employees 59% 10% 16% 19%

The percentage of employers paying 100% of the employee 50-99 employees 45% 16% 25% 14%

EMPLOYEE ONLY
medical plan cost (as opposed to plan cost for dependents) 100-499 employees 40% 7% 25% 22%
decreases slightly with company size. However, employers 500-999 employees 44% 0% 33% 19%
with over 1,000 employees more frequently adopt alternative
1000+ employees 28% 6% 22% 44%
strategies to manage costs.

Employer HSA contributions

Employer covers percentageboost
Employer covers
of popularity of
$145MO $1,740YR high-deductible
for atplans
100% of premium
least
premium for
base plan with
Employer covers
percentage of
Average monthly amount Average annual amount
employers contribute employers contribute one plan option to buy up premium Other
to employee HSAs to employee HSAs High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) have gained popularity especially when paired
< 50 employees 21% 23% 33% 22%
with Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Along with employees' ability to set aside money
50-99 employees 42%
in their HSA for a tax break,13%
many employers26%
fund HSAs to offset 19%
high deductibles.
$226MO $2,832YR
DEPENDENTS
This trend
100-499 is on the rise with
employees 14% contributing to45%
12%76% of employers employee HSAs. 24%
Average monthly amount Average annual amount
employers contribute employers contribute 500-999 employees 15% 4% 48% 22%
to family HSAs to family HSAs
1000+ employees 17% 6% 33% 50%
Of the 19% of employers who offer advanced infertility benefits:

Advanced infertility benefits

gaining traction 86% 77% 31% 19%
carve in have a lifetime
through their cover egg have a
maximum
Advanced infertility benefits that cover IVF, GIFT, and ZIFT are medical carrier dollar limit
freezing cycle limit

offered by 19% of employers surveyed and more commonly

offered by companies with over 1,000 employees. The
percentages to the right represent some of the more common
policy nuances implemented by companies offering this type
of coverage to their employees.
Like what you see? Get the report. SEQUO
IA CONS

Emplo
ULTIN
G GROU
P

ye
The Domestic section of the full report provides 16 Bench e Experience
markin
2017 g Repo
pages of benchmarking data and best practices: rt

www.sequoia.com/benchmark
 USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

Global Benefits
GAP IN COVERAGE

Coverage gap for global business travelers

Over 90% of respondents have employees traveling abroad for work, yet nearly half
of them have no Business Travel Medical (BTM) or Business Travel Accident (BTA)
insurance. This gap in coverage can result in out-of-pocket expenses for
90% 52%
employees navigating foreign healthcare systems. Have employees traveling Have a BTA or BTM
internationally for work plan in place

BTM plans are more common than BTA

Though some companies have both, more companies opt for BTM

82% 7% plans than BTA plans. Within Sequoia's client base, 82% of
companies have a BTM plan in place while only 7% have a BTA plan.
The reason is likely that, as is the case with 85% of Sequoia's global
clients, companies can add AD&D riders to their BTM plans.

Have BTM Plan Have BTA Plan

Localization is common for expats and TCNs 64% localize employees on international assignments within a year

Localization, or the transitioning of employees off of Expat/TCN or home country 38%

plans and onto host country local plans, is a common solution for global
36%
companies, especially if they anticipate rapid growth in that country. A majority of
companies who choose to localize do so within a year, with many of those
choosing to do so immediately.
14%
12%

Immediately Within Within 1 year+

Find this useful? Get the report. 6 months 1 year

ence The Global section of the full report provides 5

xperi ort
P
GROU

E
TING

e
NSUL

oy e
OIA CO

Rep pages about coverage for global employees and

Empl
SEQU

hm arking
Benc business travelers: www.sequoia.com/benchmark
2017
USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

HR Policy Enhanced Family Leave Policies

Work-life balance packs a punch in the

war for talent
The HR function at companies continues to evolve as competition for 47% 41% 12%
talent remains high. Companies must focus on creating unique
offerings and programs to attract top talent and win out as the
employer of choice.
follow the state guidelines give additional time to do not have a formal
The tech sector has been a pioneer in changing the way companies for their employees state leave policies leave policy

handle work-life balance. With an employee’s personal and professional

lives becoming ever more integrated, providing flexibility within the
work environment is a key area of focus. Unlimited PTO Driven by Tech Sector

2013 2014 2015 2017

59%
55%
Working from Home 51%

30%
21%
12% 10%

84%
1%

Do you have a tech companies non-tech companies

formal work-
of companies allow from-home
employees to work policy?
remotely

58%NO
42% YES
Want the whole picture? Get the report.
SEQUO
IA CONS

The HR section of the full report provides over 10 pages Emplo

ULTIN
G GROU
P

ye
Bench e Experience
of data and insights to help you make better HR policy markin
2017 g Repo
rt
decisions: www.sequoia.com/benchmark
 USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

Wellbeing Top Goals of Corporate Wellbeing Programs

Expanding the definition of employee wellness 32%

29%
We continue to see employee benefits packages expand beyond competitive core
offerings like medical and life insurance to incorporate perks and programs that 21%
support the physical, emotional, and financial health of employees and their 18%
families. 

When asked what the top goal was in relation to employee wellbeing, over 32% of
employers agreed that making it easier for employees to take care of themselves
was top of mind. Make taking Improve Improve Reduce
care of retention productivity healthcare
yourself costs
easier

Popular Qualified Wellness Reimbursements

Wellbeing Program Focus Areas

13% 35% 35% 47% 57% Personal training

No criteria,
21%
anything qualifies
2%
Parenting Programs Financial Emotional Volunteer Programs Physical

Offered Not offered Plan to offer in the next 12 months

Personal and Education

Group fitness classes
holistic care and learning
24%
12% 12%

Find this useful? Get the report. Parenting

needs
4%
ce The Wellbeing section of the full report provides 12
erien
e Exp Report
P
GROU
TING

pages of data and insights to inspire employee

NSUL
SEQU
lo ye
OIA CO

Emp king
hmar
Benc wellbeing: www.sequoia.com/benchmark Gym membership
2017
25%
 USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

401(k) Retirement
Retirement plans continue to be the silent marquee benefit in
employers’ arsenal. 401(k) plans have risen as the primary, and 50%
sometimes only, savings vehicle used by employees to constructively
build adequate financial security for retirement. 401(k) plans have
become such an essential component of employees’ financial
wellbeing that our survey showed that all companies with over 500 No/Low employer matching
employees offer such a retirement vehicle.
Perceived Reasons for Lower Plan Participation
The popularity and necessity of 401(k) program has driven up
demand for enrichment options like company matching.

25% 50%
The participation equation 50%
Companies in the technology sector reported lower participation rates
compared to their non-tech counterparts. Likely factors leading to this
Employee demographics No/Low employer matching
lower participation are average employee age, perceived opportunity
No/Low employer matching
costs, and other financial demands such as student loans, consumer
debt, and lifestyle.

non-tech tech
non-tech tech

% participation
100% participation 10% 2%10% 2% 25% 25%
25%
75 – 99% participation
– 99% participation 45% 31%45% 31%
– 74% participation
50 – 74% participation 21% 34%21% 34%
Lack of Employee demographics
employee understanding
Employee demographics
25 – 49% participation
– 49% participation 12% 27%12% 27%
< 25% participation
5% participation 12% 6%12% 6%

Interesting? Get the report.

25%
SEQUO
IA CONS

Emplo
ULTIN
G GROU
P

25%
ye
Bench e Experience
The 401(k) section of the full report provides 10 pages 2017
markin
g Repo
rt
of data and trends to boost your retirement program:
www.sequoia.com/benchmark
Lack of
ABOUT SEQUOIA CONSULTING GROUP USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

About Sequoia
Sequoia Consulting Group provides guidance, service, and
technology to people-first companies. Over the past 17 years, we’ve
taken care of the world’s market-changing innovators by unifying
the benefits, HR, retirement, and insurance services they need to
better scale and protect their businesses. Our well-orchestrated
team makes it easy for over 900 clients to better focus on their
critical mission knowing that Sequoia has their back with the
strategic guidance, tactical know-how, and latest technology to
face each new growth milestone and deliver a healthier, more
engaged employee experience. www.sequoia.com

“ Sequoia exists to come through

for people who put their trust in us
– no matter what.”
Greg Golub
CEO & Founder
Sequoia Consulting Group
USER EXPERIENCE BENCHMARKING REPORT OVERVIEW

Learn more online at

one.sequoia.com

Helping great companies

become great big companies

Retirement HR & Payroll Wellbeing Risk Management

Sequoia One is brought to you by