Beginning this month, eligible employees can earn up to $1,000 from Delta 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.” 

Addressing a common challenge  

Research shows that financial stressors affect not only people’s wallets, but also their overall well-being. One-third of U.S. households cannot come up with $400 cash to cover an emergency expense, according to the Federal Reserve. More than half of Americans lack the funds to cover a $1,000 emergency, according to a survey by Bankrate.

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 are focused on helping individuals improve their financial situation, while supporting them on the pathway to achieving their personal financial goals and aspirations.  

“Millions of Americans today are living paycheck to paycheck, without a financial plan in place 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 wellbeing 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, and 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.” 

Providing an innovative, practical solution 

Delta has aimed to provide eligible employees with a straightforward, step-by-step approach to making the most of the program. (All U.S. employees below the director level, including pilots, are eligible.) 

• After signing up, each employee participates in roughly two to three hours of online financial education, in addition to three one-on-one sessions with a coach from Operation HOPE or Fidelity. 

• Employees can choose from three coaching paths based on their goals and situation: 

• Managing day-to-day saving and spending.  

• Strengthening financial foundations. 

• Focusing on future goals. 

• Participating employees will be prompted to open an account with Fidelity Investments that is dedicated to emergencies and funded directly from their paycheck.  

• Upon completing the education and coaching component, employees will receive $750 from Delta to kickstart their emergency savings.  

• Delta will then match up to $250 of employees’ personal contributions to the same account.  

• Delta covers the taxes so that employees have access to the full $1,000 in cash. 

Investing in our people 

Delta is proud to offer industry-leading compensation and generous retirement savings benefits in addition to this program. With Operation HOPE, Delta has offered free financial literacy one-on-one coaching and resources to employees since 2019. 

Delta’s emergency savings program is one of several new and expanded benefits announced for employees this year. Delta rolled out expanded maternity and parental leave, totaling 12 weeks for birthing parents, and up to 25 days of highly subsidized backup care services for children, adults and pets. The company also expanded healthcare services, including access to a third-party advocate and new coverage for hearing aids, while keeping premiums flat for the fifth consecutive year.  

*Sources: U.S. Federal Reserve, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020-May 2021; Bankrate survey, January 2022 

About Operation HOPE

Founded in 1992, Operation HOPE’s mission is to make free enterprise and capitalism work for everyone by disrupting poverty for millions of low- and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. On average, Operation HOPE clients improve their credit score by over 40 points, reduce debt by $2,600 and increase savings by $300. For more information: OperationHOPE.org.  

About Fidelity Investments

Fidelity’s mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $10.6 trillion, including discretionary assets of $4.0 trillion as of November 30, 2022, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers. Privately held for over 75 years, Fidelity employs more than 60,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.