Are you looking to keep a competitive edge in recruiting talent and keeping your top employees happy? According to a 2015 Glassdoor survey, a whopping 79% of employees would choose benefits over a salary raise.
However, research also shows that many employees do not take full advantage of their employer benefits, leaving the company and staff missing out. Don’t leave these valuable benefits on the table!
To avoid wasting an investment, here are five steps to get small business employees take advantage of health insurance benefits:
Step 1: Create Awareness
Be sure to discuss employee benefits before re-enrollment comes around. Take the time to explain what benefits they have access to, why they are important and how they can use them.
The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans' latest survey revealed that only 19% of employers thought their employees understood their benefits well, and 50% were unfamiliar with the employee benefit documents.
This is an easy fix, as documents can be reviewed during staff meetings, during annual reviews, etc. These are both great opportunities to create awareness of company benefits.
Often, a new employee or prospective hire will pay close attention to what benefits are offered, but because health insurance benefits for employees can change, creating awareness is a big part of guaranteeing those employees take advantage of health insurance benefits. Always keep that door open for discussion. Remember, it’s your competitive edge!
Step 2: Communicate OFTEN
Provide regular communication using multiple formats, such as email, mailers, staff meetings, etc., to encourage employees to remind employees of their benefits. Open forum meetings allow workers to ask questions and express their concerns. It also is an excellent way for people to give testimonials for good experiences at teledocs, clinics, pharmacies, etc. Someone may have a wonderful doctor they can recommend, or know where to get discount health products, etc. It’s a great way to remind workers of the perks you offer and encourages that employees take advantage of health insurance benefits.
Step 3: Utilize Technology
Investing in HR software like Bamboo HR will reduce the time spent managing benefits and paperwork. Through Bamboo, employees have the opportunity to conveniently manage their benefits online, as well as receive the necessary resources to make well-educated decisions regarding their benefits.
Step 4: Establish a Resource Hub
Establish an internal hub of resources for your employees, whether on SharePoint, an intranet or some other library type. The hub will provide them round-the-clock access to necessary documents, webinars and videos on demand, PowerPoint demonstrations, PDF instructions and other resources.
A list of frequently asked questions will also encourage employees take advantage of health insurance benefits.
Step 5: Seek Feedback
Ask which benefits employees actually like, use, don't like and don't use, and which ones they prefer. This can be done through anonymous surveys in Survey Monkey, or through open forum discussions in staff meetings, or in one on ones. Employees take advantage of their health benefits when they know you are checking in on them and seeing their needs are being met.
In Conclusion: Helping Employees Take Advantage of Health Insurance Benefits Helps Your Bottom Line
Whenever employee benefits come up in conversation, take the chance to remind your employees that benefits are available to them. Let them know you care about their well-being, as well as their work/life balance. Employees take advantage of their health benefits when they know they are valued.
This communication will go a long way in building trust in your organization and increase their commitment to you as their employer.
Let us know how we can help you further.