Promoting Company Benefits
By Marcia Hammonds
Having comprehensive health and wellness benefit plans for your team is a key component in supporting engagement and effective recruitment and retention initiatives; especially in this competitive employment market.
However…simply having the plan ‘on paper’ is not enough. It is imperative that the various components of the health and wellness benefits are consistently and frequently communicated, acknowledged, and even celebrated to the team in ways that promote a thorough understanding of exactly what is offered to the individual employee and their families. A comprehensive plan, combined with a strong promotional strategy, will help to ensure that current and future team members consider your organization an employer of choice.
Most companies include information on benefits as part of their onboarding and orientation process; but oftentimes this is where the communication ends, and individuals are left to navigate through lengthy and complicated handbooks and pamphlets in order to determine such things as what types of treatments they have access to or are excluded from, and the maximum limits on certain treatments/providers. Even for the most seasoned of human resource or benefits specialists, this type of information can be dry, overwhelming and complex – so it is no surprise that many of our team struggle with fully understanding their benefit coverage, and therefore limit their opportunity to utilize and appreciate what is provided to them by their employer.
This is not to say that employees should not take ownership of their own healthcare – as indeed it is their responsibility for the most part – but, in my opinion, the employer also has some responsibility in this regard which, when extended beyond the ‘basics’ in terms of communication and recognition, only serves to increase the trust, loyalty and commitment of the team.
Incorporating various methods of communications in support of your team’s thorough understanding of their benefits need not be overly time-consuming or cumbersome, but instead can become part of both your internal health, wellness and safety initiatives and overall communications plan. Some suggestions on how you might do this could include:
- A centralized internal benefit email or message board where all team members can direct any questions they have concerning their benefit coverage
- Yearly benefit workshops or “lunch and learns” where the components of health and other benefits are reviewed
- Intranet system where documents, communications, and all other information relating to benefits can be stored and accessed by all team members as, and when, required
- Placement of ‘Health & Wellness Boards’ in various communal areas within your workplace where ‘hard copies’ of information and updates relating to benefits can be posted
- Discussions on benefit coverage information as part of your monthly Health, Wellness & Safety meetings – and shared meeting minutes
- If on-line benefit support is available through your insurer, send out quarterly email reminders to all team members regarding how to access this support – with a brief tutorial on how to get started and navigate the site
- Incorporate health and wellness activities focused on benefit awareness into team meetings in fun and innovative ways
At the end of the day, the methods used to promote and inform employees of the details of your benefit plan(s) are likely less important than the philosophy and practice itself; although, being mindful of the communication methods that are most effective for your team is integral to being successful in relaying and retaining this type of information.
In terms of a ‘win/win’ and return on investment for both the team and the organization, communicating, promoting and celebrating the details of your health and benefit plans on an ongoing basis will be of benefit to everyone!