Dive Brief:

• Which employee benefit most American workers would choose if they could depends upon their generation and gender, according to new research from MassMutual.
• The 2015 MassMutual Generations@Work Study reports that preferences for healthcare insurance, retirement savings, vacation and other benefits largely hinge upon workers' generation and gender, complicating benefit choices for employers.
• Overall, 47% of 1,517 American workers age 18 and older surveyed prefer more vacation time, with 44% preferring better 401(k) matches, according to the survey.

Dive Insight:

In other findings, Baby Boomers (ages 50-70) and Millennials or Gen Yers (ages 15-35) opt for more time off from work. while Gen Xers (ages 36-49) favor richer retirement benefits, according to the study. Men tend to prefer more time off while women focus more on health-related benefits.

Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual Retirement Services and Worksite Insurance, says given the varied preferences for employee benefits, the takeaway for employers is to offer as broad a menu of benefits as possible and consider offering new or expanded benefits on a voluntary or employee-paid basis.

"At MassMutual, we've found that connecting to workers based on their age, gender and life stage drives greater satisfaction with benefits. Offering guidance tools help employees make the most of their benefits," she says.