How can employers improve employee benefits communication?

As an employer, it’s vital to ensure that open lines of communication exist between you and your employees when it comes to benefits. There are many reasons why employees may not know everything that’s available to them when it comes to benefits — but with a little work, that can change. In this article, you will learn how employers can improve employee benefits communication through various methods to ensure that your employees know what they have available to them, appreciate it, and ultimately, become happier and more engaged in their work.

Why Is Employee Benefits Communication So Important?

Effective communication of employee benefits ensure that employees are aware of the benefits they’re entitled to, and so perceive the value of those benefits. A Lack of communication creates confusion and uncertainty for employees. It can also result in a sense of disengagement and disregard for the employer. By contrast, explaining to employees what they’re entitled to and how to access these benefits can result in happier and more motivated employees, which in turn can lead to reduced employee turnover and increased productivity.

Various Methods for Improving Employee Benefits Communication:

1. Use Plain Language.

   When it comes to benefits communication, confusion is a major hurdle, which can be detrimental and lead to dissatisfaction among employees. Avoid the temptation to use overly technical words or jargon. This will make it more challenging for employees to understand and appreciate the benefits that are available to them. Instead, make sure your communications are easy to read, and your language is accessible. The use of simple language allows employees to interact with their benefits and successfully navigate the system.

   Some tips to avoid confusing language include:

   • Keep paragraphs short
   • Use bullet points
   • Use subheadings
   • Be specific, and avoid using vague terms
   • Avoid technical terms where possible
2. Utilize Employee Benefit Portals.

   It’s common to encounter challenges when communicating employee benefits, especially when there are a lot of different benefits to cover. An employee benefit portal is a single platform where employees can access information about their benefits in one place. With an employee benefit portal, you can provide comprehensive information about employee benefits, including descriptions, eligibility criteria, and frequently asked questions. This centralized location helps employees stay informed and empowers them to make decisions about their benefits.

3. Provide Personal, Non-Biased Advice.

   Employees often prefer one-to-one interaction when it comes to seeking advice on important matters such as employee benefits. Therefore, it’s essential to have a resource available that they can turn to when they have questions or concerns about their benefits. When providing advice on benefits, it’s important to remain unbiased and authentic. For a successful employee benefits program, it’s crucial to work with multiple benefit providers in order to offer employees the best resources and services possible.

4. Encourage Employee Feedback.

   Open communication should be encouraged in any working environment, and this applies to employee benefits. One way to create an open communication structure is through an employee engagement survey. A benefit engagement survey will allow you to collect honest feedback on employee experience about their benefits, which will help you adjust employee benefits programs, put in the necessary improvements and consider employee suggestions.

5. Use Social Media to Communicate.

   Social media platforms are a helpful tool for communicating employee benefits, particularly to a younger and more involved workforce. Many employees use social media to keep up with current trends and to educate themselves on new things. As a result, communicating benefits through social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram can increase awareness of these benefits among the workforce. Additionally, since social media platforms encourage interaction, it can create a discussion platform where employees can share their experiences and make suggestions.

6. Provide Easy-to-Understand Benefit Summaries.

   It’s crucial to ensure that benefits summaries are concise and straightforward. This enables your employees to easily delve into the details of the benefit packages that you offer. Suppose the summary includes complicated language or has too much information; this might lead to employees being discouraged from reading it, resulting in more questions.

   Here are some tips to produce an effective benefits summary:

   • Keep it Simple and Short. When designing your benefits summary, aim to keep it to a single page.
   • Introduce the Plan First. Start with an overview, so employees understand what kind of benefits you offer.
   • List the Benefits. Create a list that outlines every benefit you offer your employees.
   • Detail the Costs. Enlist the cost and how much you are contributing; this may inspire employees to seek better ways to maintain their finances.
   • Signpost to other resources. Highlight locations where employees could go for more information.
7. Simplify the Application Process.

   When employees access their benefits, they want a simple and straightforward process. A complicated interface makes it harder for workers to access the benefits they need. The easier the application process, the more likely employees are to use the benefits they have available.

   Here are some tips to simplify application processes:

   • Eliminate Redundancies. Reduce the amount of information that employees must enter by consolidating the required information and using different interfaces.
   • Optimize the Interface. Use features such as drop-down menus and progress bars to help simplify the process, making it less tiresome or boring.
   • Streamline Access. Organize the application procedure so that the application forms and supporting documents may be accessed and filled using a single interface or tool.
   • Test Consequently. Regularly test application processes to ensure they are working correctly, determining any issues that may discourage employees from utilizing their benefits.
8. Provide Training and Support.

   One of the most valuable methods of enhancing employee benefits communication is training and support. Providing guidance and assistance to employees could make them more confident and capable of using any new material or benefits that have been introduced to them. Supplementing this with group sessions, such as benefit discussion forums or seminars, can also be a valuable resource.

Conclusions:

Your employees are your most valuable asset and, as an employer, it’s your responsibility to make sure they have access to the necessary resources. Effective communication of employee benefits is essential in fostering a loyal and motivated workforce. Utilizing various methods such as easy-to-understand language, comprehensive benefits summaries, employee benefit portals, accurate advice, social media engagement, simplified application methods, and finally providing training and support can result in a more successful employee benefits program.

In delivering the best possible employee benefits program to your workforce, it is important to be responsive to employees’ needs and to understand how your company can best support them. Employing these methods as a way to deliver effective benefits communication will not only enhance your employee benefits program but also improve employee satisfaction, joy in the workplace, and also indirectly increase productivity of your entire organization.