Houston, we have a problem. Or rather, we have many problems when it comes to employee benefits.
You know ‘em well: rising healthcare costs. Pressure to invest in even more resources to support employees through a pandemic. Increased turnover thanks to the Great Resignation. And despite our best efforts, low benefits understanding and use — which leads to wasted healthcare spending for your organization and your employees.
The solution? A benefits engagement strategy that finally gives employees the guidance they need, when they need it most. That means happier, healthier, more financially sound employees, and a boost to your company’s bottom line.
But reinventing how we approach employee benefits communication doesn’t happen overnight, and recent data suggests that we still have some work to do. So how does your organization’s benefits engagement strategy stack up?
Take the quiz to learn:
- How your benefits communication strategy compares to national averages
- Where your employees are getting confused when it comes to benefits
- Tools and data that will help you take your engagement strategy from good to great
You're not alone!
As benefits pros, open enrollment is our bread and butter. Our time to shine. Our moment in the sun. So it makes sense that many of us are still using open enrollment as THE time of year when we communicate about employee benefits.
53%
of employees aren’t confident in their benefits understanding, even after they’ve enrolled
But it’s not enough.
So the next era of benefits engagement will be all about meeting employees year-round, whenever they need benefits guidance—whether that’s when they’re choosing a new healthcare plan, searching for an in-network provider, or trying to figure out if it’s cheaper to go to the ER or urgent care.
Learn how to build a
year-round benefits communication strategy.
You’re above average!
Great job! You’re engaging employees around their benefits more often than the average employer. Pat yourself on the back! And after you’re done celebrating, let’s work together to explore how you might guide employees even more often throughout the year. Because chances are, 4-6 benefits messages annually isn’t going to cut it. Why? Well, it turns out that most employees are still confused about how to use their benefits, and they aren’t taking action even when you are communicating with them.
2 in 5
employees don’t understand the benefits communications they receive.
Not sure where to start?
Here’s how to break down basic benefits concepts in a human, understandable way.
Great work!
You’re one of the few employers who are engaging employees anywhere, anytime they have a benefits need.
How are you making it happen? Probably with a benefits engagement platform like ALEX. (Unless you’re superhuman and stay up 24/7 answering employees’ benefits questions—and if that’s the case, we want to know your secrets).
Not familiar with ALEX? Here’s how to level up your benefits engagement strategy.
Womp, womp.
We know them, we love them: the tried and true benefits portal. They sound great on paper, right? A one-stop shop where employees can access everything they could possibly need to know about their benefits!
But the unfortunate truth is that the old "portal and push” method doesn’t work. Despite all of the time and resources we spend setting up and updating our intranet with benefits information, employees aren’t using it:
51%
of employees only visit their benefits portal 1-3 times per year.
It’s not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with a benefits portal. It’s always good to have an extra reference on hand. But it’s not enough. Portals fail to meet employees when and where they need benefits guidance the most.
Simply put, employees don’t know what they don’t know. So when they’re paying for medical bills, they probably won’t know to look for HSA information on your intranet.
And when their kid breaks a leg, they don’t have time to scour a benefits portal for hours to find out if it’s cheaper to go to the ER or urgent care.
So it’s time to stop asking our employees to take an active role in seeking out benefits information. Because they simply aren’t going to do it.
Meet employees where they are, with the benefits guidance they need.
Womp, womp.
Ahhhh, the age-old standard of employee benefits resources: the benefits guide. Yes, they’re necessary — and it’s always great to have a one-stop shop for employees to access all things benefits-related. (And if you want them, we’ve got tips to make yours even better!)
But for so long, we’ve basically been asking employees to figure out their benefits by sorting through a textbook. And that alone doesn’t work. Employees aren’t making smarter choices at enrollment, and they don’t understand how to actually use their benefits throughout the year. And it shows:
52%
of employees say choosing their benefits is stressful
1 in 5
employees want more benefits education
Benefits guides will always be a necessary part of the HR toolbox, but they can’t be the only tool in the box. Employees want personalized recommendations based on their unique situation—and they’re not getting that from your hefty benefits guide.
Meet employees where they are, with the benefits guidance they need.
Womp, womp.
Ahhhh, the age-old standard of employee benefits resources: the benefits presentation. Yes, they’re necessary — and it’s always great to have a one-stop shop for employees to access all things benefits-related. (And if you want them, we’ve got tips to make yours even better!)
But the hard truth is that a benefits presentation isn’t enough. A once-a-year presentation gives employees a nice overview of your benefits package, yes — but it fails to meet employees when and where they need benefits guidance the most.
Simply put, employees don’t know what they don’t know. So when they’re paying for medical bills, they probably won’t remember to go back to your recorded presentation to look for HSA information. And when their kid breaks a leg, they don’t have time to scour a video to find out if it’s cheaper to go to the ER or urgent care.
So it’s time to stop asking our employees to take an active role in seeking out benefits information. Because they simply aren’t going to do it.
Meet employees where they are, with the benefits guidance they need.
You’re ahead of the curve!
If you’re using any kind of modern technology to communicate your benefits, you’re already one step ahead of your peers. It’s hard to believe, but so many HR teams are only relying on printed benefits guides, intranets, and recorded videos to share benefits information with their employees.
So if you’re using a benefits engagement platform, give yourself a pat on the back. Offering employees 24/7 access to personalized healthcare recommendations is THE way forward for benefits engagement
Why? Because our employees are asking for one-on-one help, but busy HR teams don’t have time to give it to them:
46%
of employees don’t receive any 1:1 guidance when choosing their benefits
So keep up the great work! And if you’re looking for even more ways to improve your benefits engagement tech, we’re always here to help.
Meet employees where they are, with the benefits guidance they need.
Here’s an opportunity area!
If you’re not yet offering personalized benefits recommendations, now is the time to start. Employees are clear that they need a little hand-holding when it comes to learning how to best choose and use their benefits. In fact, a majority of employees say they want one-on-one benefits guidance rather than group meetings or presentations.
And who can blame them? Dozens of acronyms (HDHP, PPO, HSA, oh my!), unclear pricing, and a dizzying array of voluntary benefits are enough to confuse anyone. So they’re looking to us—the benefits experts—to help them make smarter healthcare decisions.
The bad news:
46%
of employees don’t receive any 1:1 guidance when choosing their benefits
So set your company apart by offering personalized benefits guidance based on each employee’s unique lifestyle and health needs. Chances are, you don’t have time to sit down with each individual employee and point them towards the right choices.
That’s where a benefits engagement tool can come in handy.
Guide employees towards benefits choices that work for them.
Here’s an opportunity area!
If you’ve created employee personas or are finding other ways to offer benefits guidance based on general demographic information, you’re off to a great start. But now is the time to find a way to offer each individual employee recommendations based on their own unique needs.
Employees are clear that they need a little hand-holding when it comes to learning how to best choose and use their benefits. In fact, a majority of employees say they want one-on-one benefits guidance rather than group meetings or presentations.
And who can blame them? Dozens of acronyms (HDHP, PPO, HSA, oh my!), unclear pricing, and a dizzying array of voluntary benefits are enough to confuse anyone. So they’re looking to us—the benefits experts—to help them make smarter healthcare decisions. The bad news:
46%
of employees don’t receive any 1:1 guidance when choosing their benefits
So set your company apart by offering personalized benefits guidance based on each employee’s unique lifestyle and health needs. Chances are, you don’t have time to sit down with each individual employee and point them towards the right choices.
That’s where a benefits engagement platform can come in handy.
Guide employees towards benefits choices that work for them.
Here’s an opportunity area!
First things first: we’re giving you a standing ovation for making yourself available to your employees for one-on-one benefits guidance. 👏 You’re among the HR elite, and your employees are lucky to have you!
So the fact that you’re offering yourself up as a resource and making space for employees to come to you with questions is a great thing. Because it’s what they want (and need).
46%
of employees don’t receive any 1:1 guidance when choosing their benefits
But here’s the catch: you could be saving yourself hundreds of hours of time. Those 1:1 meetings likely take up a significant portion of your day—hours you could be spending on higher priority tasks.
The good news: there’s a way to offer employees the same level of personalized benefits guidance, 24/7, on any device—without wasting a minute of your own time.
Guide employees towards smarter benefits decisions...on their time, not yours.
Great work!
If you’re using a benefits engagement platform to personalize your benefits communications, well done. Not only are you giving employees what they want (and need), but you’re saving yourself hundreds of hours of work per year.
And if you’re looking for even more ways to improve your benefits engagement tech, we’re always here to help.
Guide employees towards smarter benefits decisions...on their time, not yours.
That’s ok! Let’s fix it.
You’re not alone: HR teams large and small struggle to calculate just how much return they’re earning on their benefits package.
But it’s a problem we should fix sooner rather than later: because companies are investing more than ever in benefits to support employees through a pandemic. And unfortunately, half that investment is going down the drain.
So what’s the secret to understanding (and increasing) your benefits ROI? Combatting employee confusion—with a benefits engagement tool that breaks down tough concepts in a personal, human way. It works, too:
C-suite leaders say
53%
of their healthcare spending is wasted due to benefits confusion
85%
of employees better understand their benefits after using Benefits Counselor
Employers save
$2,000
per employee when employees enroll in the right benefits for their needs
Drive smarter benefits decisions—and see your bottom line grow.
Ok! That’s a great start.
HR teams large and small struggle to calculate just how much return they’re earning on their benefits package. So if you’re still not 100% confident in your benefits ROI, you’re not alone.
But it’s a problem we should fix sooner rather than later: because companies are investing more than ever in benefits to support employees through a pandemic. And unfortunately, half that investment is going down the drain.
So what’s the secret to understanding (and increasing) your benefits ROI? Combatting employee confusion—with a benefits engagement tool that breaks down tough concepts in a personal, human way. It works, too:
C-suite leaders say
53%
of their healthcare spending is wasted due to benefits confusion
85%
of employees better understand their benefits after using Benefits Counselor
Employers save
$2,000
per employee when employees enroll in the right benefits for their needs
Drive smarter benefits decisions—and see your bottom line grow.
Great work!
HR teams large and small struggle to calculate just how much return they’re earning on their benefits package. So if you’re confident about your benefits ROI, you’re already ahead of the game.
But it’s a problem we should fix sooner rather than later: because companies are investing more than ever in benefits to support employees through a pandemic. And unfortunately, half that investment is going down the drain.
So what’s the secret to understanding (and increasing) your benefits ROI? Combatting employee confusion—with a benefits engagement tool that breaks down tough concepts in a personal, human way. It works, too:
C-suite leaders say
53%
of their healthcare spending is wasted due to benefits confusion
85%
of employees better understand their benefits after using Benefits Counselor
Employers save
$2,000
per employee when employees enroll in the right benefits for their needs
Drive smarter benefits decisions—and see your bottom line grow.
Winner, winner! Chicken dinner!
HR teams large and small struggle to calculate just how much return they’re earning on their benefits package. So if you’re regularly tracking metrics that prove your benefits ROI, you’re waaaaay ahead of the game. (Seriously. Can we talk? We want to know your secrets…)
But it’s a problem we should fix sooner rather than later: because companies are investing more than ever in benefits to support employees through a pandemic. And unfortunately, half that investment is going down the drain.
So what’s the secret to understanding (and increasing) your benefits ROI? Combatting employee confusion—with a benefits engagement tool that breaks down tough concepts in a personal, human way. It works, too:
C-suite leaders say
53%
of their healthcare spending is wasted due to benefits confusion
85%
of employees better understand their benefits after using Benefits Counselor
Employers save
$2,000
per employee when employees enroll in the right benefits for their needs
Drive smarter benefits decisions—and see your bottom line grow.
Now's the time to start!
If you’re not yet formally collecting feedback on your benefits engagement strategy, that’s ok. You have an endless to-do list, and your role is ever-expanding: from recruiter to healthcare expert to shoulder to cry on.
But every business needs feedback to improve their overall experience. So regular surveys are one of many tools you can use to improve engagement with your benefits package, and ultimately give employees what they need.
Do you need a more personalized approach, for example? Or a simpler way to explain your benefits options? Should you be sending more frequent reminders about important deadlines?
Find out what’s going well (and what’s not) so that you can continue to improve your benefits engagement strategy.
Here’s the benefits engagement survey that every HR team should send.
Great start!
If you’re not yet formally collecting feedback on your benefits engagement strategy, that’s ok. You have an endless to-do list, and your role is ever-expanding: from recruiter to healthcare expert to shoulder to cry on.
But every business needs feedback to improve their overall experience. So regular surveys are one of many tools you can use to improve engagement with your benefits package, and ultimately give employees what they need.
Do you need a more personalized approach, for example? Or a simpler way to explain your benefits options? Should you be sending more frequent reminders about important deadlines?
Find out what’s going well (and what’s not) so that you can continue to improve your benefits engagement strategy.
Here’s the benefits engagement survey that every HR team should send.
Well done!
If you’re already formally collecting feedback on your benefits engagement strategy, great work. Every business needs feedback to improve their overall experience, so regular surveys are one of many tools you can use to improve engagement with your benefits package, and ultimately give employees what they need.
Ready to level up your feedback loop? Think about sending more than one survey per year. Employees use their benefits year-round, not just at enrollment — so regularly collecting their thoughts on what’s working and where you can offer more support goes a long way.
Curious what other HR teams are including in their feedback surveys? Check out our survey template for inspiration (and maybe a few tips to improve your own!)
Here’s the benefits engagement survey that every HR team should send.
Well done!
If you’re already formally collecting feedback on your benefits engagement strategy, great work. Every business needs feedback to improve their overall experience, so regular surveys are one of many tools you can use to improve engagement with your benefits package, and ultimately give employees what they need.
Curious what other HR teams are including in their feedback surveys? Check out our survey template for inspiration (and maybe a few tips to improve your own!)
Here’s the benefits engagement survey that every HR team should send.
