WTW: Employees understand their benefits more — but like them less

WTW’s latest EX Intelligence report shows a growing gap between awareness and satisfaction. This year, 84% of employees say they understand their company benefits, up from 77% in 2024. But only 61% say they’re satisfied with what they get, down from 66% last year.

WTW says knowing what a benefit is doesn’t mean it’s useful. Companies are being pushed to rethink their reward mix, not by spending more, but by shifting existing dollars toward what actually improves satisfaction and retention. While only 41% of employees believe pay matches performance, two-thirds say they’re happy with their non-financial benefits — a steady improvement over last year.

WTW’s view: getting the balance right between financial and non-financial rewards is what separates employers that keep people engaged from those that don’t.