Insight Four
Employee education is the most challenging, and vital, aspect of benefits administration and open enrollment is a key time for benefits education.
Employers place high importance on employees understanding their benefits, followed by employees enrolling in their benefits.
When employees are empowered with knowledge about the benefits available to them and how to use them, they will be better prepared to make choices that are best for them and their specific situation.
What matters for employee engagement according to HR leaders?
Employees understand their benefits
Employees enroll in benefits.
Employees utilize their benefits.
What are the most challenging aspects of benefits administration?
Employee education
Implementation
Troubleshooting
Handling employee complaints
Platform learning curve
Nearly 45% feel that handling employee complaints is a major challenge, demonstrating that a “noiseless” benefits provider that cuts down on negative employee feedback can be a huge asset for HR leaders.
of HR leaders say that benefits education is the most challenging aspect of benefits administration.
About half of HR leaders feel that benefits implementation is a challenge. This highlights the need for benefits platforms to focus on ease-of-use, straightforward integrations with existing HR tech stacks, and knowledgeable, responsive support.
While 96% of employers rate their employees as knowledgeable about their benefits, education remains a challenge for HR professionals, especially because it must be balanced with other aspects of their jobs.
Nearly one-third, 27%, of HR leaders reported that employee education took more time than they expected, pointing to the need for providers to support their clients with high-quality, easy-to-access education and support.
Open enrollment is the main time employers use to educate employees about benefits, but year-round benefits education is essential.
70% of organizations use materials, benefits fairs, information sessions, and decision support tools during open enrollment to educate employees about their benefits options. About half offer these education materials throughout the year, with on-demand materials most commonly offered year-round.
51% of HR leaders rely on their benefits providers for the creation of educational materials for savings and spendings benefits. Benefits providers must take benefits education seriously if they are to drive the most loyalty from their clients.
Action items for employers and brokers
For HR leaders
- Survey your employees: What kind of employee feedback are you receiving? How can you cut down on negative feedback?
- Evaluate your current benefits providers: Are they providing employee education and support that eases your stress and helps drive benefits adoption?
- Work with your benefits providers to generate benefits education materials for employees during open enrollment and all year long.
For brokers
- Evaluate the customer service your clients are receiving from their benefits providers: Are you hearing a lot of complaints? Are employees and clients' questions getting answered? Investigate other options if your clients and their employees have received poor service.
- Recommend providers that support employee benefits education to ease the burden on your clients and ensure employees are well informed about their benefits options..