Speaking up in a meeting, introducing yourself at a conference or making small talk at a neighborhood event come easily to some people and not at all to others. Social skills and confidence programs, such as improv classes, public speaking groups and assertiveness workshops, offer a low-pressure place to practice. Employers include them in an LSA because confidence carries into nearly every part of work and life.
Employees who look for confidence programs
Individual contributors preparing for their first big presentation often start here. So do people returning to work after years of caregiving who want to feel at ease in meetings again. Employees who moved from another country sometimes join conversation groups to feel more comfortable in casual settings. Introverts in client-facing roles pick improv or speaking clubs to build habits they can fall back on. Others just want to feel less awkward meeting new people outside work. For related ideas, see our article on employee resource groups.
Confidence-building programs employees often choose
Most eligible expenses involve practicing with other people, guided by an instructor or coach.
- Beginner improv classes at a local theater or studio
- Dues for a public speaking club
- Assertiveness and boundary-setting workshops
- Networking skills courses for career changers
- One-on-one confidence or presence coaching
- Conversation groups for adults building small-talk skills in a second language
To compare this with other popular categories, read our breakdown of LSA eligible expenses.
What confidence programs don't include
- Treatment for social anxiety with a licensed therapist belongs in the health plan or EAP.
- Image consulting, wardrobe services and cosmetic procedures are usually excluded, even when marketed as confidence builders.
- Presentation training the company requires for a role is typically paid by the team or the L&D budget.
- Some plans limit private coaching sessions, since they cost more than group classes.
- Dating coaches and matchmaking services are often excluded, since they fall outside most plans' idea of skill building.
Designing a confidence and social skills category
Favor practice over theory
Group classes where people actually speak and interact tend to do more than a video course. Put live, participatory programs first in your list of examples.
Keep it separate from therapy
State that skill-building classes and coaching are covered while treatment for anxiety goes through the health plan or EAP. Employees should feel comfortable using either one.
Allow personal goals
Not everyone is building confidence for work. Let people use the funds for community classes or clubs even when the benefit to their job is indirect.
Frequently asked questions
Can an LSA cover social skills and confidence-building programs?
Many employers include these programs under social wellbeing or personal development, with details set by the plan. Improv classes, public speaking clubs and assertiveness workshops are common examples. Private coaching may have its own limit.
Are improv classes really a benefit expense?
In many plans, yes. Improv is a practical way to practice listening, thinking on your feet and speaking in front of others, which is why employers often group it with confidence building. Many community theaters run beginner series for people with no stage experience.
Can I use my LSA for social anxiety therapy?
Therapy with a licensed provider is typically excluded from LSAs. Use your health plan, HSA, FSA or EAP for clinical care, and your LSA for skill-building classes if you want both.
Does a public speaking club membership count?
Club dues are often allowed in this category. Keep the membership receipt, and check whether your plan reimburses dues annually or per payment. Since local club dues are usually modest, this tends to be a small, simple claim.
Because LSAs are post-tax benefits, reimbursements are usually taxable. Read more on how LSA reimbursements are taxed.
This content is general information, not medical, legal, tax, or financial advice. Employer plan terms determine eligibility, and requirements may vary by location.
