What's Happening?
As open enrollment periods become increasingly complex, HR professionals are being urged to improve their communication strategies to help employees navigate the process. According to a study by Corebridge
Financial, 20% of surveyed workers find the open enrollment process difficult to understand, and over half would struggle with an unexpected $1,000 medical expense. Amanda Martell, director of human resources at LifeSpeak, suggests that HR teams can use cost-effective strategies such as repeated emails, short team meetings, and visual guides to simplify benefits information. Martell emphasizes the importance of focusing on what employees care about most, such as predictable costs and access to preventive care, while also equipping managers with tools to act as benefits ambassadors.
Why It's Important?
Effective communication during open enrollment is crucial as it directly impacts employees' ability to make informed decisions about their benefits. Poor communication can lead to confusion, resulting in employees making suboptimal choices that could affect their financial and health security. For HR departments, improving communication can reduce the number of support requests and increase enrollment completion rates, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently. This is particularly important in a time when many organizations face budget constraints and need to maximize the impact of their HR efforts.
What's Next?
HR teams are encouraged to adopt a phased communication approach, starting with an early announcement and followed by reminders as deadlines approach. This strategy aims to keep employees informed without overwhelming them. Additionally, offering refresher courses and mid-year trainings can help maintain benefits information top of mind throughout the year. By tracking engagement metrics, HR departments can assess the effectiveness of their communication strategies and make necessary adjustments to improve employee understanding and satisfaction.
