Benefits Design Briefing 2026
This four-page briefing provides key insights from the REBA Benefits Design Research 2026, published in partnership with Howden Employee Benefits.
Reward and benefits professionals are experiencing mounting pressures and expectations around running benefits programmes. Whether it’s proving return on investment, reducing absence, improving engagement or driving performance.
By digging deeper into the data being used by today’s employee benefits professionals, this research explores what good benefits governance looks like and highlights the stark difference between the perceived performance of benefits compared with the available data to demonstrate success.
If you don’t have time to read the full report, this free download will enable you to read the key findings and actions from REBA’s Benefits Design Research 2026, which considers the role of data within employers’ benefits strategies.
About the research
Using the Reward & Employee Benefits Association’s extensive membership of 4,700 senior reward and benefits practitioners and a database of over 25,000 HR contacts, the research team conducted an online survey in January 2026. This achieved participation from 381 organisations, representing an estimated 1.4 million employees.
Contributors
Jo Gallacher
Hi, I'm Jo and I'm an experienced editor, writer and podcast, webinar and event host. I was previously editor of B2B title HR magazine, where I led on its two
flagship events, edited the bimonthly magazine, hosted webinars and launched two podcasts. I've also appeared as a guest on several BBC radio stations,
including BBC Radio 4’s Money Box. I'm passionate about reward and benefits, and ensuring diversity and inclusion is a key priority in the workplace.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07842 444541
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/jo-gallacher-80a8a0115/
Dawn Lewis
Hi, I’m Dawn, REBA’s content editor, working alongside Maggie to fill the website with the articles, insights and interviews that our members want to read. I’ve been working in the HR world for more than 10 years, having previously been part of the editorial team at Pay & Benefits magazine. Being part of the REBA team and wider REBA community is a real joy, and I love chatting to our members and watching as our industry continues to grow and evolve.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07706 325536
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/dawn-lewis-66a1a026/
Debi O'Donovan
I’m Debi and I co-founded REBA in 2015, where I am a director. I enjoy sharing insights, data and information about employee benefits and pay via articles, research, guides and videos because I believe it helps so many employees receive better reward packages than they would if REBA didn’t distribute this knowledge. REBA has a great community and it makes my work fun to talk to the wide variety of people working in reward and benefits through our events, both large and small.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07740 056590
- X:
- @debiodonovan
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/debiodonovan/
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Howden Employee Benefits
Howden provides insurance broking, risk management and claims consulting services, globally. We work with clients of all sizes to provide dedicated employee benefits & wellbeing consultancy.
