Latest news with #Estep
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Employees struggle financially making it paycheck to paycheck, while employers fall short in meeting expectations for support
New Prudential Benefits & Beyond study reveals everyday financial stresses as top employee concerns, yet only about one-third of employers believe their workplace benefits ease daily money pressures, focusing instead on retirement benefits NEWARK, N.J., May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) released today its annual Benefits & Beyond study that reveals day-to-day financial stress is a leading concern for employees. Employees are raising their expectations for robust workplace benefits and believe their employers should play a larger role in helping them alleviate that stress. Employers agree, yet many aren't keeping up with those demands, instead focusing more on longer-term financial support. Key findings from the first installment of Prudential's 2025 Benefits & Beyond study, "New Workforce Expectations: How evolving needs are reshaping the workplace," include: Many employers recognize that workplace benefits aren't adequately addressing employees' day-to-day stress. While 75% of employers believe their benefits help with retirement savings, only 35% believe they help with immediate financial stresses like everyday expenses. Employees' top challenges are saving for retirement (45%), cost of everyday goods (44%), cost of housing (29%) and making it paycheck to paycheck (26%). The study's findings are clear: When it comes to workplace benefits, there is a disconnect on what companies offer and what employees actually need — now and in the future. The study finds that 86% of employers think their benefits are modern, while only 59% of employees agree. With a backdrop of economic uncertainty, shifting expectations and evolving social norms, today's employees expect holistic support from employers to help solve the challenges they face. They seek modern benefits that offer flexibility and financial support, and prioritize their overall well-being, according to Michael Estep, president of Prudential Group Insurance. Beyond pay, employees want their employers to provide modern benefits that reflect the real needs people are facing today. That includes benefits that help people balance their personal lives and address what happens outside of work, with employees considering flexible benefits like a four-day workweek (41%) and "pawternity" leave (23%) as optimal. "Employees want benefits that go beyond traditional coverage and more completely address how they live and work," said Estep. "The workplace is at a tipping point, and there's so much at stake for employers. When benefits are aligned with your company's values and workforce needs, they become a powerful driver of culture, business performance and long-term growth." The study shows there's a gap between employers' perceptions and the reality of how employees view modern benefits. While almost all employers (97%) say well-being is a priority, only 7 out of 10 employees (69%) agree their employers feel this way. The research identifies opportunities for employers to help solve employee challenges, including retirement savings, making it paycheck to paycheck, job security and flexible work arrangements. "Effective communication and awareness are needed to better demonstrate commitment to employee well-being and highlight how benefits can meet each person's unique needs," Estep added. Click here to view and download the study. The research was conducted with 2,946 full-time employees and 750 employers in the U.S. via national online surveys in January and February 2025. Visit for more information on Prudential Group Insurance's portfolio of workplace benefits, absence management and risk mitigation solutions. ABOUT PRUDENTIAL Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2024, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for 150 years. For more information, please visit Prudential Group Insurance manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term disability, and corporate and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. to institutional clients primarily for use within employee and membership benefits plans. The business also sells critical illness, accidental death and dismemberment, and other ancillary coverages. In addition, the business provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages, and administrative services for employee-paid and unpaid leave including FMLA, ADA and PFL. 1086500-00001-00 View source version on Contacts MEDIA Marisa Amador 973-802-8969 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Employees struggle financially making it paycheck to paycheck, while employers fall short in meeting expectations for support
NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) released today its annual Benefits & Beyond study that reveals day-to-day financial stress is a leading concern for employees. Employees are raising their expectations for robust workplace benefits and believe their employers should play a larger role in helping them alleviate that stress. Employers agree, yet many aren't keeping up with those demands, instead focusing more on longer-term financial support. "When benefits are aligned with your company's values and workforce needs, they become a powerful driver of culture, business performance and long-term growth.' Share Key findings from the first installment of Prudential's 2025 Benefits & Beyond study, ' New Workforce Expectations: How evolving needs are reshaping the workplace,' include: Many employers recognize that workplace benefits aren't adequately addressing employees' day-to-day stress. While 75% of employers believe their benefits help with retirement savings, only 35% believe they help with immediate financial stresses like everyday expenses. Employees' top challenges are saving for retirement (45%), cost of everyday goods (44%), cost of housing (29%) and making it paycheck to paycheck (26%). The study's findings are clear: When it comes to workplace benefits, there is a disconnect on what companies offer and what employees actually need — now and in the future. The study finds that 86% of employers think their benefits are modern, while only 59% of employees agree. With a backdrop of economic uncertainty, shifting expectations and evolving social norms, today's employees expect holistic support from employers to help solve the challenges they face. They seek modern benefits that offer flexibility and financial support, and prioritize their overall well-being, according to Michael Estep, president of Prudential Group Insurance. Beyond pay, employees want their employers to provide modern benefits that reflect the real needs people are facing today. That includes benefits that help people balance their personal lives and address what happens outside of work, with employees considering flexible benefits like a four-day workweek (41%) and 'pawternity' leave (23%) as optimal. 'Employees want benefits that go beyond traditional coverage and more completely address how they live and work,' said Estep. 'The workplace is at a tipping point, and there's so much at stake for employers. When benefits are aligned with your company's values and workforce needs, they become a powerful driver of culture, business performance and long-term growth.' The study shows there's a gap between employers' perceptions and the reality of how employees view modern benefits. While almost all employers (97%) say well-being is a priority, only 7 out of 10 employees (69%) agree their employers feel this way. The research identifies opportunities for employers to help solve employee challenges, including retirement savings, making it paycheck to paycheck, job security and flexible work arrangements. 'Effective communication and awareness are needed to better demonstrate commitment to employee well-being and highlight how benefits can meet each person's unique needs,' Estep added. Click here to view and download the study. The research was conducted with 2,946 full-time employees and 750 employers in the U.S. via national online surveys in January and February 2025. Visit for more information on Prudential Group Insurance's portfolio of workplace benefits, absence management and risk mitigation solutions. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2024, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for 150 years. For more information, please visit Prudential Group Insurance manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term disability, and corporate and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. to institutional clients primarily for use within employee and membership benefits plans. The business also sells critical illness, accidental death and dismemberment, and other ancillary coverages. In addition, the business provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages, and administrative services for employee-paid and unpaid leave including FMLA, ADA and PFL. 1086500-00001-00
Business Wire
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
RestorixHealth Welcomes New C-Suite Leadership
METAIRIE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RestorixHealth, the nation's leading wound care solutions company, has announced new corporate leadership in Ben Dunford, MBA, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Melinda Estep, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). One key takeaway from my time at RestorixHealth so far is the centrality of our mission is critically important, and the work we do daily to help patients heal is truly world-class. Share Dunford brings to RestorixHealth a wealth of healthcare experience serving in various c-suite roles, including CFO at Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at NorthStar Anesthesia, President of Rural Physicians Group and, most recently, CEO of Diversified Radiology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dunford began his career at Bain & Company and Goldman Sachs. 'One key takeaway from my time at RestorixHealth so far is the centrality of our mission: to restore health and improve the quality of life – and access to care – for patients with wounds. This mission is critically important, and the work we do daily to help patients heal is truly world-class,' Dunford explains. 'I have enjoyed meeting our associates, providers, partners and patients over the past few months and learning just how dedicated they are to our values and culture. RestorixHealth is positioned for growth, and I look forward to supporting our team as we provide more communities and patients with the high-quality care they deserve.' Estep joins RestorixHealth with over 25 years of experience in finance, healthcare operations and business development, including executive officer roles with multiple healthcare companies, including Associate CFO, Associate COO and Chief of Business Development of Denver Health Medical Center, Principal and Managing Director of Delivery Systems at Health Management Associates and, most recently, CFO of John Muir Health. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Colorado. Estep is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a fellow with America's Essential Hospitals and the Healthcare Finance Management Association. 'Melinda's extensive financial and management skills are an asset to our company,' adds Dunford. 'I am confident that, together, we will lead RestorixHealth to not only achieve our goals but also foster a collaborative, supportive culture for our colleagues and associates.' About RestorixHealth Committed to excellence in wound care, RestorixHealth is the wound care solutions company providing programs, services, products and education across the care continuum. From developing and operating wound centers in partnership with hospitals, to delivering professional wound care in nursing facilities and in-home settings, RestorixHealth's solutions increase access to care, reduce hospital admissions and most importantly, improve patient outcomes and quality of life. For more information, visit
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marion County residents help McDowell County clean up from March floods
FAIRMONT — When Mike Estep got the call to travel to McDowell County, West Virginia, he did not hesitate. Estep, the lead pastor of LIFE United Methodist Church in Fairmont, has deep roots in McDowell County "that go back to the 1800s pioneer days." He had read the accounts of the March flooding and it tugged at his heart. He gets frustrated talking about the unmet needs of a county that, in its heyday, had a population of 120,000-plus residents. "Why can we not have clean, drinkable water in West Virginia in the 21st century,? Estep asked. "And the answer is, we can we just have leaders who are choosing not to do that." Estep and three other Marion County residents went to Welch and McDowell County during the last week of March to take part in a United Methodist mission to help the less fortunate whose homes had been devasted by the floods. Another group that was involved with the cleanup is called "From Below," which is described as an educational immersion experience that was started by Appalachian ministers and is funded by the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia. "We cleaned out three homes right in a row that hadn't been touched, or basements that hadn't been touched," said Estep. "What we found was flood water, sewage, coal, dust, et cetera. And a lot of the poor and elderly who are left in McDowell County just don't have the resources to clean out, to repair, to rebuild, and our state legislature is just not caring for some reason. I think it's an ideological reason." Estep recently took part in a protest of state and national policies in Fairmont that take away funding for programs that harm the poor and needy. He believes lawmakers simply have to do better. "I think the hope here is for folks to realize that we're not alone in our deep concerns, perhaps even our anger," Estep said. "We're not alone also in our vision for a country that that has compassion, care, policy, representation for folks who are at the bottom or on the edges." Paul Wilmoth and his wide Cheryl Wilmoth, who live in the Marion County town of Barrackville, met up with Estep in McDowell County to assist with the cleanup project. Paul Wilmoth said the trip was eye-opening for him. "My understanding is that there's been a lot of hardship down there," Paul Wilmoth said. "There's not much government, federal or state presence. It's actually bankrupt of any help down there. If it wasn't for volunteer organizations, I don't think there'd be much help down there at all." When asked to characterize the problems facing the McDowell County residents he worked with, Wilmoth said the challenges are multi-faceted. "I mean, it's a couple things. It's the flood was there, and the flood was difficult for them," he said. "Plus, there's just like, been a huge industrial irresponsibility down there for decades, coal mining, their water is horrible. They can't drink their water down there. "There's just many, many, many, many issues that you would think that as a government, as one looking out for the people, that there would be more of a helpful presence down there from not only our state, but also from our federal government." Cheryl Wilmoth described the mission trip and the conditions she saw as "humbling." She said McDowell County residents desperately need help. "It's just overwhelming, and the health crisis that's going to come from that is even scarier to be honest with you," she said. "So it just it makes my heart so sad to think that our legislators in Charleston, our representatives in Washington, have not had the courage to step up and say, 'We will help you. We will do something to get you through this,' because they need the help. They desperately need the help."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Is the Fox Hollow Farm haunted?
Serial killer Herb Baumeister's Fox Hollow Farm was the site of a series of murders in the 80s and 90s. Some also believe it to be Estep, author of 'The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm' and a paranormal expert, joins 'Banfield' to talk about his book and his time traveling to the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
