• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive

3

Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive

3

Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
NewslettersFortune CHRO

These are the benefits that employees actually want—and the number one spot is the same for every generation

Brit Morse
By
Brit Morse
Brit Morse
Leadership Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Brit Morse
By
Brit Morse
Brit Morse
Leadership Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 23, 2025, 8:19 AM ET
Young woman holding credit card and using laptop computer. Businesswoman working at home. Online shopping, e-commerce, internet banking, spending money, working from home concept
Regardless of age, all workers want the ability to manage their own schedules. Getty Images

Good morning!

Recommended Video

Managing employees across a four-generation workforce is no easy task, and doing so forces HR leaders to create policies for people with vastly different priorities and perspectives. But when it comes to benefits, a study found that people of all ages agree on what they value most: flexibility.

Alternative work schedules, like four-day work weeks, ranked number one on the list of most important benefits by every generation, according to a new study from Mercer Marsh Benefits, a benefits consultancy, which surveyed 18,384 employees. Millennials prioritized flexible work the most (53%), followed by Gen Z (48%), Gen X (47%), and Boomers (43%). 

And while 49% of workers said that flexible work would be helpful to them or their families, only 32% of employees say their companies allow them to adjust the hours or days they work. That means regardless of age, all workers want the autonomy to manage their day-to-day activities 

This isn’t all too surprising, as many organizations have been attempting to get people back into the office over the past few years. And some are even choosing to implement hard-line return-to-office mandates. But alternative work schedules also makes it easier for employees to take advantage of the other benefits a company offers, the study points out. This includes the ability to take time off to go to medical appointments or therapy.

The second highest-ranking benefit remains the same for three out of the four generations. Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X all want the ability to work remotely. Boomers, not surprisingly, ranked flexible options in terms of retirement as their second most valued benefit option. That includes the ability to gradually work fewer hours, modify their job responsibilities, and designate time to transfer knowledge to other generations. 

From there, benefit priorities vary a bit across age groups. Younger workers like Gen Z want mental health screenings and coverage for doctor visits, Millennials want upskilling opportunities, Gen X is looking towards retirement, and Boomers are focused on preventative care like cancer screenings. 

So while it may seem difficult for HR leaders to figure out how to tailor their benefits across generations, it’s helpful to remember that the need for work-life balance isn’t going anywhere, and that allowing employees a little bit of autonomy over how they run their lives can go a long way.

Brit Morse
brit.morse@fortune.com

CHRO Daily is off Monday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. We’ll be back in your inboxes Tuesday, May 27.

Around the Table

A round-up of the most important HR headlines.

In order to not make an enemy of the president, CEOs of public companies are trying to avoid using certain language. New York Times

Meta is instructing managers to rate more employee performances as “below expectations.” Business Insider 

An in-depth look into the vast appeal of multi-level marketing schemes reveals some awkward truths about the nature of American work. The Atlantic

Watercooler

Everything you need to know from Fortune.

Move to Arkansas! To lure workers, Walmart is upgrading its campus with new benefits, including swimming pools, pickleball courts, and a childcare center. —Emma Burleigh

Combatting tariffs. In times of economic uncertainty, small businesses have the opportunity to show resilience. —Ashley Lutz

Reputation troubles. Americans are viewing Tesla in an increasingly negative light due primarily to the actions of Elon Musk. —Christiaan Hetzner

This is the web version of Fortune CHRO, a newsletter focusing on helping HR executives navigate the needs of the workplace. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox.
About the Author
Brit Morse
By Brit MorseLeadership Reporter
LinkedIn icon

Brit Morse is a former Leadership reporter at Fortune, covering workplace trends and the C-suite. She also writes CHRO Daily, Fortune’s flagship newsletter for HR professionals and corporate leaders.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Newsletters

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Newsletters

She grew Salesforce’s team by 600% in South Asia. Meet one of India’s most powerful women
NewslettersMPW Daily
She grew Salesforce’s team by 600% in South Asia. Meet one of India’s most powerful women
By Angelica AngMay 22, 2026
3 days ago
dario
NewslettersTerm Sheet
‘A pressure cooker ready to explode’: The wild secondaries scramble for Anthropic shares
By Allie GarfinkleMay 22, 2026
3 days ago
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna (right) and U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on December 10, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
U.S. will award $2 billion in grants to nine quantum computing companies—and take equity stakes
By Andrew NuscaMay 22, 2026
3 days ago
Bolt’s cofounder scrapped its HR department. This CEO says people management is key to thriving in the AI age
NewslettersCEO Daily
Bolt’s cofounder scrapped its HR department. This CEO says people management is key to thriving in the AI age
By Diane BradyMay 22, 2026
3 days ago
Boris Cherny is the creator and head of Claude Code at Anthropic
NewslettersEye on AI
Anthropic lands in London as AI-powered coding—and the anxieties around it—go mainstream
By Beatrice NolanMay 21, 2026
4 days ago
Victoria’s Secret’s CEO is so confident in her strategy to bring back sexy that the company just changed its stock ticker to ‘VSXY’
NewslettersMPW Daily
Victoria’s Secret’s CEO is so confident in her strategy to bring back sexy that the company just changed its stock ticker to ‘VSXY’
By Emma HinchliffeMay 21, 2026
4 days ago

Most Popular

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
4 days ago
Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive
Lifestyle
Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive
By Sasha RogelbergMay 24, 2026
19 hours ago
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
Success
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
By Emma BurleighMay 22, 2026
3 days ago
Inside the 'stealth wealth' playbook: How Silicon Valley's elite buy multimillion-dollar mansions without leaving a paper trail
Real Estate
Inside the 'stealth wealth' playbook: How Silicon Valley's elite buy multimillion-dollar mansions without leaving a paper trail
By Sydney LakeMay 24, 2026
20 hours ago
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
5 days ago
Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
Success
Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
By Preston ForeMay 22, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.