Prudential study finds employees seek personalized workplace benefits over one-size-fits-all plans

Prudential released its 2026 Benefits & Beyond study, flagging rising employee demand for personalized workplace benefits tied to real-life needs.

• Employee-employer perception gap: 89% of employers see benefits as a signal of care, versus 66% of employees.
• Misalignment risk seen in value delivery: 85% of employers think benefits meet life-stage challenges, versus 64% of employees.
• Engagement skews higher among employees with young children or teenagers, linking stronger benefits to retention and decision confidence.
• Enrollment friction persists: 20% feel overwhelmed, 38% feel confident; over half want decision-support tools or household-profile benefit design.