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Employees want vision benefits.
Offering the right kind of vision perks supports employee satisfaction and engagement. It also makes a huge difference when it comes to hiring and retaining employees.
However, each employee has different needs. How can employers offer vision benefits that match the needs of everyone?
The answer is multi-generational vision plans. By picking a plan with savings on a wide range of optometry services, employers can offer something valuable to everyone, from the newest hire to the most seasoned employee.
For brokers, focusing on multi-generational benefits is a sound strategy for standing out and offering more value.
The American Workforce is Increasingly Diverse
The American workforce is more diverse than ever in terms of age. In fact, some workplaces have employees spread out over as many as five generations.
Embracing diversity creates a rich and welcoming environment and allows businesses to strike a balance between experience and innovation. However, a multi-generational workplace requires a few accommodations.
These generations are currently working:
- A few individuals from the Silent Generation are delaying retirement or choosing to come out of retirement and go back to work.
- Baby Boomers make up 15% of the US workforce.
- Generation X workers account for roughly a third of employees.
- Millennials are in their prime working years and are the most represented generation in the workplace.
- Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, spans a diverse range of employees in junior-level positions and teens entering the workforce for the first time.
The multi-generation workforce is here to stay. In a few years, Generation Alpha will start seeking their first summer jobs and internships. Experts are also predicting that the number of workers over 75 will increase.
How Do Vision Needs Differ Across Generations?
As a broker, you can stand out by publishing relatable broker marketing materials about the diverse needs of a multi-generational workforce. You should also educate employers about how vision needs differ.
Some of these needs are universal, such as having access to regular eye exams and to a great network of local optometrists.
Other needs are specific to older workers:
- Age-related macular degeneration is more likely to appear with age. This condition damages the retina and is a common cause of vision loss among those over 60.
- Cataracts also become more common with age. Cataracts obscure the lens of the eye and often require surgery.
- Glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that increase pressure in the eye, is a serious health concern among aging workers.
- For those with diabetes, aging can increase the risks of developing retinopathy.
- Presbyopia, dry eyes and refractive errors can also appear with age.
Assuming that only older workers have unique eye health risks is a misconception. A multi-generation approach to eye health needs to also address the needs of Gen Zers and Millennials.
These younger workers have high rates of refractive eye problems. They also tend to be more aware of eye health and value vision-related benefits.
With American workers getting as many as 96 hours of screentime a week, frequent eye exams, blue light glasses and an eye-friendly workplace are quickly becoming valuable perks.
What Does a Multi-Generation Vision Plan Look Like?
Once you have educated your audience about the importance of multi-generational vision benefits, you can introduce a vision plan that addresses these needs.
A multi-generational vision plan should have the following features:
- It should focus on preventative care. Getting regular eye exams is the best way to catch eye health issues early at any age.
- Employees should have access to a comprehensive range of vision-related services. This perk ensures the plan will remain adapted as needs change over the years. A comprehensive plan will also keep up with changing optometry trends.
A plan accepted by local optometrists is a great option. Employees will have multiple optometrists to choose from and can benefit from a personalized approach to eye health.
Multi-Generational Eye Health Benefits With VCD
Brokers can help employers meet the diverse needs of today’s workforce with multi-generational vision plans.
VCD’s prepaid vision plans are an affordable and accessible option. Negotiated savings mean employees can save on a wide range of eye health services. VCD’s extensive local network of optometrists also enhances satisfaction among a diverse workforce.
Learn more about adding VCD’s plans to your portfolio and joining our family as a broker!
Summary: The American workforce is highly diverse in terms of age. As a broker, you can create value for employers by offering multi-generational vision plans that meet the needs of every employee.
