Beginning this month, eligible Delta Air Lines employees can earn up to $1,000 to fuel their emergency savings when they complete a financial education/coaching program and contribute to an emergency savings account. This new program, created in partnership with financial advisory organization Operation HOPE and workplace provider Fidelity Investments, aims to help Delta employees strengthen their financial well-being by addressing a common challenge seen nationwide.
“At Delta, we know that physical, emotional, social, and financial health are essential for our people to be at their best,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “This investment in the financial well-being of our employees is a practical solution to a common challenge. With stronger financial literacy and the peace of mind of a safety net, our team can worry less and focus on the goals that matter most to them.”
Research shows that financial stressors affect not only people’s wallets but also their overall well-being. According to the Federal Reserve, one-third of U.S. households cannot come up with $400 cash to cover an emergency expense. According to a survey by Bankrate, more than half of Americans lack the funds to cover a $1,000 emergency.
To help address this, Delta has engaged Operation HOPE and Fidelity Investments to provide personal financial coaching models and a simple savings solution to Delta’s diverse team of employees. Both organizations focus on helping individuals improve their financial situation while supporting them toward achieving their personal financial goals and aspirations.
“Millions of Americans today are living paycheck to paycheck, without a financial plan to reduce their debt, increase their credit score and become full participants in the American dream,” said John Hope Bryant, founder, and CEO of Operation HOPE. “We applaud Delta Air Lines’ commitment to the success and overall well-being of their entire workforce.”
“Too many Americans are unprepared to handle the unexpected, and this current economic environment only makes it more important to help people establish solid savings behaviors and build a foundation to cover short-term expenses,” said Kevin Barry, president of Workplace Investing at Fidelity Investments. “As this program demonstrates, employers are in a position to help. Fidelity is pleased to work with Delta, as it proudly has for over three decades, to help their employees improve their financial wellness and provide savers with a path to achieve their emergency savings objectives.”
