Benefits are an integral part of the employee experience, so it's essential to provide appealing and comprehensive options and educate your employees about them. According to a 2023 MetLife study, employees who understand their benefits are happier and feel more stable at work. So, how can your organization ensure your employees are fully aware of their perks? The key is effective communication. In this article, we share tips and insights on how to help your employees understand their compensation packages and how your organization can improve employee benefits communication.
Organizational communication is instrumental in building healthy relationships within the workplace. When organizations struggle with communication, it can negatively impact relationships, employee satisfaction and engagement, and overall business performance. On the other hand, maintaining open and consistent communication can foster positive relationships, create a sense of belonging, and keep employees informed and engaged.
Since employee benefits packages directly impact employee experience and retention, how well your organization communicates these details is essential. When you effectively communicate what benefits and perks your team can access, it shows the organization's commitment to their wellbeing and your intention to foster a positive workplace environment. If employees are fully aware of their benefit options, they are more likely to feel valued, engaged, and satisfied with their roles and the company.
A MetLife study also found that 50% of employees who understood their benefits package said it increased their loyalty to their employer. Additionally, when employees are more familiar with their benefits, they're more likely to use them, which provides you with more insight into what options and incentives they prefer and are worth keeping available.
Your organization should establish a benefits communication process and cadence to ensure employees understand all the options that are available to them. Here are some tips and recommendations for how to communicate employee benefits.
All benefit communications should take into account consider employee roles and locations. For instance, benefits may differ for employees in the U.S. as opposed to those in Brazil. They may also vary based on their employment status, such as contractor versus full-time employee.
Open enrollment is just one of many times throughout the year your organization should communicate employee benefits information. Finding opportunities to communicate benefits information to your team regularly will ensure that they engage with and get the most out of their benefits package. Your organization can overcome this challenge by creating an employee benefits communication strategy with a timeline to consistently share this information, including updates or helpful reminders about available options.
Develop a comprehensive, user-friendly benefits guide for employees to use as a reference. This guide will help new and long-term employees understand the contents of their benefits package and receive instructions on signing up for various benefits. Make sure this text is readily available in a company resource folder or on the intranet.
Make sure that all benefits information is easily accessible to all employees, either through the intranet or by providing a downloadable PDF. By modernizing these communications, you can guarantee that no matter where employees are located or how they prefer to consume information, they will have easy access to details about their perks. Additionally, consider incorporating infographics, charts, and videos to make the information more engaging and easier to understand.
Ensure that the benefits package's most valuable and unique aspects are regularly highlighted to current employees. For instance, if your organization provides free subscriptions to Calm, you can encourage your team to download the app and incorporate meditation into their weekly routine. Or, if there's a wellness benefit like the ClassPass Corporate Wellness Program, organize a wellness challenge to encourage employees to take advantage of the benefit and focus on their health and wellbeing.
Regular updates are crucial to developing a benefits communication strategy. Establish a timeline for sending friendly reminders to employees about the benefits that are available. This will keep them informed about any upcoming changes or updates, including open enrollment, removal and addition of benefits, and any changes related to pricing or requirements for specific offerings.
The Marketing Rule of 7 suggests that a potential customer needs to be exposed to a brand's marketing messages at least seven times before they make a purchase decision. Employees are potential customers of our company’s benefits package. Apply the Marketing Rule of 7, using multiple touchpoints and channels to “convert” them. Use various internal communication tools and methods, such as emails, intranet, printed materials, team communications platforms, and face-to-face and virtual meetings. This increases the likelihood that you'll reach employees via their preferred channel and encourage them to engage with your benefits.
Create a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document or webpage that answers common concerns. By providing a list of frequently asked questions, employees can self-service and find answers independently. This ultimately saves them time, allows HR staff to focus on other areas, and ensures consistency in responses.
Make sure employees can share their feedback on the benefits being offered. Gathering insights from employees will provide valuable information for your employee benefits analysis and influence future improvements. This analysis could influence decisions on whether to expand or remove certain offerings. Additionally, collecting feedback on benefits will also provide a better understanding of how your communication was received and enable you to create more personalized and non-traditional employee benefits.
Here are a few sample communications to help you better convey employee benefits to your employees.
Subject: New and Enhanced Employee Benefits for 2024!
Hi team,
We’re excited to announce new and enhanced employee benefits that will take effect on January 1, 2025. These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting your well-being.
Updates to employee benefits:
- Expanded Health Coverage: We've increased our health insurance plan options to provide more flexibility and better coverage for you and your family.
- Mental Health Support: There’ll be new programs and resources for mental health, including free counseling sessions and mindfulness workshops.
- Employee Wellness Program: We’ll offer a new comprehensive wellness program featuring fitness classes, beauty services, nutritional counseling, and wellness challenges.
For more details on these benefits and how to enroll, please refer to the attached PDF or visit the benefits section on our intranet.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
Channel: #benefits
Message: 🚨 Exciting Update on Employee Benefits! 🚨
Hi everyone!
We’ve got some great news to share about our employee benefits program. Next month, we’re rolling out several new benefits to better support your health, well-being, and career growth!
What’s new?
What’s changing?
For more details, check out the full announcement on our intranet or read through the latest email in your inbox.
Feel free to ask any questions here or reach out directly to HR!
Page Title: New Employee Benefits for 2025
Content: We are thrilled to announce the launch of several new employee benefits, effective January 1, 2025. These enhancements are designed to support your health, mental well-being, and professional development.
Key Benefits Updates:
How to Learn More and Enroll:
We’re committed to providing a supportive and enriching work environment for all our employees. Thank you for being a part of our team!
Creating an employee benefits communication strategy can majorly impact the employee experience, benefit utilization rates, and retention. Continuously find ways to improve these communications and identify ways to ensure all correspondence remains clear, informative, concise, and transparent.