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REBA Benefits Design Research 2026
Understand what's driving smarter benefit outcomes
How success is being driven at the leading edge of benefits strategy
We’re delighted to share our latest research, designed to guide smarter benefit strategy and decision making in 2026 and beyond.
Running a great benefits programme that delivers genuine business impact has never been harder. Reward teams are having to juggle rising employee expectations, limited resources and budgets, and growing business demand to evolve.
In partnership with REBA, this is our 4th edition of the Benefits Design Research, which sets out to investigate how Reward teams are governing their benefits today and whether they're seeing good outcomes as a result of their practices.
It considers setting of strategy and objectives, use of data and tools, stakeholder engagement, and more. We’ve then taken these responses to define current best practice.
Importantly, the research also uncovers the critical gap between those who are succeeding and those who aren’t, in terms of the practices that drive success for those at the leading edge of benefits strategy.
Those who are just starting to think about a more clearly defined approach to benefits strategy should not despair. Our research shows the stepping stones to take from a relatively immature approach to best practice over time.
The result: This report and its insights should give any Reward professional a great opportunity to take a step back, evaluate their current practices, and take practical steps to improving how they run their benefits.
381
Respondents from Reward practitioners in businesses of all shapes and sizes
1.4m
Employees represented from the organisations taking part in the research
191
Respondents work for organisations with more than 1,000 employees
Hear from Matthew on our latest research
Our relationship with REBA
The Reward & Employee Benefits Association (REBA) is a thriving community of HR professionals dedicated to pursuing best practice in reward and benefits. Synonymous with excellence, REBA informs and empowers its members to grow their networks, advance their knowledge, source and connect with market-leading vendors, and be prepared for what’s coming over the horizon.
Howden work with REBA to produce content throughout the year which supports HR and reward professionals in their roles. We take part in yearly research reports, events and articles to showcase the great work we do to support our clients and prospects.
Related insights
REBA: What it really takes to run an employee benefits programme in 2026
Running a benefits programme today is like running a small business – complex, fast-moving and full of responsibility. In this REBA webinar, an expert panel unpacks how reward teams are evolving to meet rising business expectations, embracing new skills, technology and ways of working to stay ahead in 2026 and beyond.
Available On Demand
Watch now
Decision-making: What it takes to run a great benefits programme in 2026
Discover what it takes to build a standout benefits strategy for 2026 and beyond. Backed by REBA research, this webinar shares practical insights on KPIs, data, tech and AI – giving reward and benefits teams the blueprint to make smarter decisions, drive engagement and deliver real business impact.
Available On Demand
Watch now
How employee expectations are influencing employers’ approach to financial wellbeing
Financial pressure is no longer a personal issue employees leave at the door – it is a material business risk.
Read here
When building a global benefits strategy becomes a journey - not a sprint
Creating an effective global benefits strategy is a journey, not a sprint. It requires careful planning to ensure multinational organisations offer programmes that are relevant, compliant, and valued in every market.
Read here
Workplace savings benefits: how to determine the best option for your organisation
Financial worries among employees can affect productivity, engagement and absenteeism but employers can help alleviate the stress.
Read here
Building data capabilities for tomorrow:
What will the future of data-driven decision-making in reward and benefits look like?
With AI and analytics reshaping the workplace, forward‑thinking employers have the chance to turn data into a strategic advantage- driving smarter decisions, stronger benefits programmes, and measurable business impact.
Watch the on-demand recording
Expert view:
Regular data insights are crucial to securing benefits investment
Cheryl Brennan, managing director at Howden Employee Benefits, argues that benefits professionals must maintain understanding of return on investment (ROI) and trends, rather than engaging the board only when there is demand.
Watch the interview
The secrets to harnessing data for maximum impact
In an era of complexity, cost pressures and business performance challenges, reward leaders need to significantly improve their use of data to demonstrate the value of their activities, the value of the investment into benefits and the case for change, when it’s required.
Watch the on-demand recording
Get in touch
Together, we can transform your employee benefits strategy.