May 14, 2026
It wasn't too long ago that employees had the upper hand and headlines focused on the Great Resignation, not layoffs and Quiet Cutting — and now, cutting corporate benefit programs.
Retirement plans, health insurance and paid family leave are the types of benefits that allow employees to protect and plan their financial futures. Yet more companies are pulling back these benefits to free up cash to go all in on AI.
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TTEC, a global customer experience technology company, has put a nine-month pause on its 3% 401(k) match for US staff. In an April 30 memo, Laura Butler, TTEC's chief people officer, said it would "protect the long-term strength" of the business and give them greater financial flexibility to keep investing in "the tools, training, and capabilities that will define our future," Business Insider reported (1).
The pause will be reviewed early 2027 and reinstated only if business performance supports it, Butler said further.
TTEC employs approximately 16,000 U.S. employees and brought in $2.137 billion (4) in revenue in 2025, which was down 3.2% compared to the year prior. The company's cashflow in 2025 was a positive $121.1 million (5) versus a negative $58.8 million in 2024.
Agility at what cost
Chris Brown, the CEO of TTEC Digital, stated the broader strategy is to help financially stabilize for future growth and investment in "tools, training, capabilities, and frankly, people." However, the irony isn't lost on employees that retirement savings are slashed so that the company can make technology investments.
TTEC employees told Business Insider (2) they were met with "confusion, then anger" and that the move is "a head scratcher."
Brown pointed the finger at other professional services firms, stating "this is something that others are doing" (3) too. Big tech is also reconsidering what add-ons they offer their people. According to The New York Times (6), Deloitte is pulling back paid leave for people in administrative roles (from 16 to eight weeks for birth mothers), reducing vacation time and eliminating financial support for IVF, adoption and surrogacy — just as President Trump proposed a new rule (8) to allow employers to provide standalone coverage (9) for fertility benefits.
Zoom cut parental leave from 22 weeks to 18 weeks for birth mothers and non-birthing parents from 16 weeks to 10 weeks. Zoom has stated more corporate speak that it's due to the "long term health and sustainability" and Deloitte said it will "better align with the marketplace," the Times reported (7).
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The "marketplace" is a patchwork of private policies, many of which fall short in lieu of mandated federal coverage. Resigning these benefits could hit working mothers (10) the hardest, as paid leave and remote work are critical for balancing family and career.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (11), only 27% of private industry workers had access to paid leave in 2023.
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Maximize your benefits
However, there are some bright lights. Last year, Starbucks doubled their parental leave (12) for U.S. employees who work at least 20 hours per week. Birthing parents receive up to 18 weeks of fully paid leave. Starbucks also offers health insurance that covers fertility benefits.
While most people don't have the luxury to take (or switch) jobs just for the benefits, especially if that means foregoing a higher salary, it's worth reviewing your benefits in detail to see how you can make the most of them.
This might mean funneling more into your 401(k) to get compounding working for you faster, having early conversations about family planning and looking at what other companies in your industry are offering.
In this market, you can benefit from more forward-planning.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
Business Insider (1),(2),(3); TTEC Investors (4),(5); The New York Times (6),(7); PBS (8); U.S. Department of Labor (9); IWPR (10); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (11); Starbucks (12)
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Amanda Smith is an Australian freelance journalist and writer based in the New York City area who reports on culture/society, technology, and health.
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