Employee Benefits Communications:The Best Ways to Reach Your WorkforceHealth & Welfare Practice Update

October 2015 • Lockton® Companies

L O C K T O N C O M P A N I E S

SHANE JACOBSENVice President, Producer

Omaha Health & Welfare Practice402.970.6102

sjacobsen@lockton.com

Open enrollment.

What do those two words mean to you?

If they describe an incredibly stressful and exhausting time of year that involves long hours developing employee communications and triple-checking compliance requirements, you will want to read on.

Lockton is here to inform you that compiling open enrollment information does not have to be a daunting experience. We have the resources to help your company make a smooth transition from one plan year to the next. Not only can we help you create an effective benefi ts guide, but we can also coordinate future employee communications to keep your workforce engaged throughout the plan year.

The problem with traditional employee communications is that they are generally limited to a hefty, hard copy guide that very few associates read in its entirety. They are not always the most thrilling of documents to fl ip through, despite the vital benefi ts information they contain.

In fact, research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that only 9 percent of employees are “very knowledgeable” about their benefi ts. This is unfortunate

Q: Where can I find help developing our

company’s employee handbook and

communications?

A: Lockton is here to provide you with the

expertise to create all of your employee

benefit communications throughout the year.

Our new online resource - ThinkHR - offers an

employee handbook builder for use in all 50

states to maintain compliance and keep your

workforce informed.

Read more on Twitter @LocktonOmaha

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when you consider the resources invested in the setup and maintenance of a company’s benefits program. At a time when so many organizations are finally paying attention to their benefits, there often remains a gap in clearly communicating this information to employees.

Creating a competitive benefit platform is a great way to recruit associates, as well as retain and satisfy those you have on board. An annual survey from MetLife shows that when professionals are satisfied with their benefits, they are twice as likely to also be satisfied with their work.

However, the study from SHRM reveals that only 22 percent of respondents “strongly agree” that their employer’s benefits communications are very effective at informing them about their benefits.

In order to create employee communications that your associates will be receptive to, we suggest keeping the following factors in mind:

1. Know your audience and determine their needs, risks and health concerns.

2. Plan your communications for the full year, and be consistent and repetitive with your messages.

3. Incorporate both traditional (enrollment guides, brochures) and modern (mobile, social, video) forms of communication.

4. Segment your workforce into groups (such as age, marital status, or language) in order to offer the most targeted and relevant communication pieces.

5. Take all family members and decision makers into consideration, and make information easy to share with all.

6. Allocate a communications budget.

7. Create goals and measure your progress.

If the list above appears insurmountable, remember that Lockton has a team of benefits communication experts available to assist you throughout the year. We can help

October 2015 • Lockton Companies

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you create a strategic plan, determine the demographics among your workforce, design materials, produce mobile and video tutorials, build a benefits hub or host website, track and measure your opportunities and successes, and more.

Our recently-introduced ThinkHR system is also available to walk you through the creation of fully compliant handbooks for use in all 50 states. It is a fast and easy path to comprehensive, up-to-date employee handbooks that enables companies to meet federal requirements. ThinkHR further provides you with answers to your day-to-day questions, hundreds of training classes, and compliance data to keep you informed.

Comprehensive, engaging, and consistent communication methods are important when it comes to employee benefits, because an informed workforce means a better work environment. Lockton can help you effectively reach your associates using the appropriate channels, and soon the words “open enrollment” will describe just another day at the office.

When professionals are satisfied with

their benefits, they are twice as likely

to also be satisfied with their work.

References:

Society for Human Resource Management (March 17, 2015). Strategic Benefits—Communicating Benefits: http://www.shrm.org/research/surveyfindings/pages/strategic-benefits--communicating-benefits.aspx

MetLife (2014). Benefits Breakthrough, How Employees & Their Employers are Navigating an Evolving Environment: https://benefittrends.metlife.com/assets/downloads/benefits-breakthrough-summaries-2014.pdf

Our Mission

To be the worldwide value and service leader in insurance brokerage, risk management, employee benefits, and retirement services

Our Goal

To be the best place to do business and to work

© 2015 Lockton, Inc. All rights reserved. Images © 2015 iStock. All rights reserved.

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