Rising healthcare inflation, shifting workforce expectations, and increasing benefits complexity are challenging leaders to rethink how they design programs that support both employees and organizational performance. In this episode, Mercer’s Tracy Watts, Senior Partner and U.S. Leader for Healthcare Policy, explores the major forces reshaping employee benefits. She breaks down how leaders can build flexible, future-ready benefits strategies that improve access, strengthen workforce resilience, and adapt to a rapidly changing healthcare and policy landscape. Tune in to learn:

Why benefits strategy has become a critical business decision for leaders.

The forces driving rising benefits complexity — from affordability pressures and workforce demographics to AI-driven navigation tools and evolving employee expectations.

Ways to balance affordability, flexibility, and workforce resilience.

Resources from this Week's Episode -

Advocacy: SHRM’s Top Five Workplace Policy Issues for 2026

https://www.shrm.org/advocacy/2026-top-five-workplace-issues

Research: 2025 Employee Benefits Survey

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/employee-benefits-survey

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