Aon : U.S. Hospitals Accelerate Hiring and Bolster Benefits Amid “The Great Resignation,” Aon Reports

CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2022 -Aon plc (NYSE: AON) reports that 83 percent of U.S. hospitals surveyed have accelerated clinical hiring to meet surging demand in medical services, according to the firm's 17^th annual Benefits Survey of Hospitals released today. Another 15 percent indicate normal hiring trends and 2 percent are being cautious, delaying or issuing a hiring freeze, according to Aon, a leading global professional services firm.

"In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the top priority for hospitals continues to be to attract and retain front-line medical professionals in the face of a nationwide talent shortage," said Sheena Singh, senior vice president of Aon's national healthcare industry practice. "This shortage threatens to impact patient care delivery, accelerate burnout among clinical staff and delay attainment of organizational objectives. As a result, health systems have prioritized benefits as a mechanism to reward and build a resilient workforce."

Top concerns expressed by U.S. health system employers include:

• offering competitive benefits to attract and retain talent (91 percent)
• employee burnout/workforce resiliency (89 percent)
• employees understanding the value of their benefits (89 percent)
• access to mental health services (84 percent)
• improving health outcomes (83 percent)

The report shows median health benefit expenses per hospital employee per year increased 2.7 percent, from $15,688 in 2021 to $16,114 in 2022.

Seventy-eight percent of hospitals aim to pay 76 percent or more of their employees' health care costs and 14 percent offer a no-cost health plan option to some segment of their employee population. Eighty-two percent of health systems surveyed provide a discount to employees via plan design to access their own facilities and providers.

Hospitals also seek to reward employees with the following benefits:

• 94 percent offering tuition reimbursement programs
• 78 percent offering flexible work options
• 74 percent offering personal leave
• 73 percent offering cash-out vacation policies
• 72 percent offering financial wellness/planning
• 45 percent offering gender-affirming benefits
• 44 percent offering adoption benefits
• 40 percent offering enhanced behavioral health benefits (beyond traditional employee assistance programs or medical plans)
• 39 percent offering student loan repayment plans (an additional 41 percent are considering this option)
• 33 percent offering on-site daycare
• 31 percent offering back-up childcare
• 23 percent offering back-up elder care

Aon's 17^th annual Benefits Survey of Hospitals surveyed hospital employers between April and June 2022. The survey compiles results of participating benefit plans for more than 2.6 million health system employees representing more than 1,200 hospitals across the U.S.

For more information and to access the report, visit https://insights-north-america.aon.com/healthcare/aon-2022-benefits-survey-of-hospitals-report.

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