As the cost of living continues to rise, employees across the United States are feeling the strain of today’s affordability crunch. From housing and healthcare to everyday expenses, financial pressure is reshaping how people work, engage, and plan for the future.
For HR and Total Rewards leaders, this creates an urgent need to rethink compensation, benefits, and workplace strategies to better support employee financial health. Experts in financial well-being, behavioral science, and workforce strategy will share practical, evidence-based approaches to help organizations respond effectively.
In this conversation, expert speakers will cover:
- How today’s affordability crisis is impacting employee financial wellbeing, behavior, and performance
- The root causes behind financial stress and what HR leaders often overlook
- Practical compensation, benefits, and Total Rewards strategies that can make a measurable impact
- How leading organizations are evolving pay, benefits, and financial wellness programs to better support their workforce
Leave with actionable ideas to strengthen your Total Rewards strategy, support employee wellbeing, and improve engagement and retention during uncertain economic times.
Meet the Presenters
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Ashley Whillans
Ashley Whillans, Ph.D., is the Volpert Family Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. She is an expert in how workplace reward structures influence employee motivation, retention, and well-being. Her research has been published in leading academic journals, including Nature Human Behaviour and PNAS, as well as in popular outlets such as Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Whillans earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of British Columbia.
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Matt Bahl
Matt Bahl is Vice President of Workplace Market Lead at the Financial Health Network. He is an expert in workplace financial wellness and collaborates with employers, solution providers, investors, and other organizations to raise awareness of and implement solutions that meaningfully improve employee financial health. His insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Associated Press, and other leading publications. Bahl earned his BA from Colorado College and his JD from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law.
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Mindy Field
Mindy Field is a Partner at Mercer, where she leads the firm's Heartland teams, the Minneapolis office, and its Health, Wealth, and Career business across the region. She serves as a trusted advisor to clients, helping them identify workforce and business challenges and develop tailored human capital solutions. A key area of focus throughout her work is advancing employee financial health and well-being. Field earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
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Jason Rahlan
Jason Rahlan is Global Head of Sustainability and Impact at Dayforce. He leads the company's efforts to operate responsibly, advance sustainability, and create positive social impact. In this role, he also oversees the WorkLife research initiative, which examines economic and labor market trends, as well as the financial health and overall well-being of the U.S. workforce. Rahlan earned his BA from American University and his M.S. from Columbia University.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.