Two events are occurring simultaneously that are causing concern. First, the volatile nature of COVID and its effects on the job market are creating a situation of uncertain income streams and income gaps. Second, the need for emergency funding has become even more important in this environment – something Americans have little of or have considered as part of their retirement savings.

However, there are options, at the policy level, that can aid workers within their workplaces to better save for emergencies and provide a bit of a financial cushion should such situation arise. A report from the Aspen Institute entitled Moving From Experimentation to the Mainstream: Policy Options to Automate Workplace Emergency Savings, provides solutions that can eliminate or reduce barriers to automatic workplace savings and can be available to workers no matter where they work or how they get paid.