Annual enrollment: Focus on the employee experience through moments that matter
As annual enrollment is approaching, take this opportunity to demonstrate your continued commitment to employees and to reinforce the overall employee experience – from the communication you provide, the support you deliver and the decision-making tools you offer.
Once considered a practical and transactional event, annual enrollment is now viewed as a key touchpoint that provides an opportunity to connect with employees as they make complex and sometimes difficult choices about health and wellness benefits coverage and costs. It has become a moment that matters: employees are looking for greater flexibility and support, and expect meaningful, consumer-grade experiences to address their shifting priorities and personal needs.
Annual enrollment is the one time of year when employees expect to hear about benefits. Consequently, it’s critical to deploy creative and thoughtful communication strategies that deliver clear messages about the company’s commitment to health and well-being, the value of these benefits, and how they contribute to employees’ overall total rewards.
Lines have blurred between home life and work life. Speaking out on key beliefs and empowering the workforce to deliver on an agile and meaningful agenda goes beyond work. In fact, according to Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends shows that 46% of employees would choose more well-being benefits over a 10% pay increase (up from 32% in 2022). Some studies also indicate that up to 50% of employees do not understand their benefits, suggesting that you may not need to introduce new benefits, but rather, focus on building awareness and engagement around the benefits you already offer.
Organizations working in partnership with employees to create equitable, transparent and rewarding relationships strengthen the employment deal, and elevate the employee value proposition (EVP). They are focusing on harnessing the collective energy of their people by ensuring employees are bound by a common purpose and are able to bring their best and full selves to work in human-centric work environments, supported by a relatable HR function.
The top 3 ways companies can refocus on moments that matter during this year’s annual enrollment:
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Zoom in on digital tools
Expand digital, anytime access to simple, yet meaningful benefits information.
With people now working from home (or wherever they have a good Wi-Fi connection), employers need to be creative in getting enrollment information into the hands of their workforce. Help employees experience your benefits and focus on their health in the same ways that they engage in the consumer world — via smart phones, tablets and laptops. Annual enrollment is a great time to rethink your media and communication channels. Also, consider the timing, and energize the look and feel of your communication pieces.
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Engage in two-way communications
Create targeted, transparent and authentic two-way communications.
Do you know what’s top of mind for your employees leading into this enrollment season? What about managers, a critical link to the workforce? Or leaders — what keeps them up at night? Using pulse technology or some other sensing mechanism can be a great way to uncover and address those burning questions.
Consider hosting live sessions where leaders are available to answer questions. Implement virtual office hours through a platform like the Mercer Virtual Benefits Fair, where employees and family members can learn about benefits and participate in live chats and webinars with HR and plan provider partners.
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Focus
Address health disparities to close the gaps for those underserved and under-represented by providing specialized total health support and multi-lingual communications.
Many employers are moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” communication approach. Instead, messages, images and stories can be tailored and directed to employees in a variety of ways — related to current participation in plans and programs, age range, gender or consumerism patterns.
Another way to focus on employees is to deliver communications that are relatable and useful. Self-recorded testimonials, interactive decision tools and branding that embodies the heart of the organization all create the opportunity for employees to feel a personal connection.
Transform your employee experience with Mercer Belong
Annual enrollment is an opportune time to showcase your employee experience through consumer-grade communications and tools. Today’s digital world offers consumers simple, personalized experiences that effortlessly and instantly meet specific needs. Yet at work, numerous apps and platforms often compete and overlap, leaving employees unsure of where to go, and frustrated by a disconnected experience. In an ultra-competitive labor market, it has never been more important to maximize the results of your investment in the employee experience.
Mercer Belong is a forward-thinking engagement platform that helps employees make sense of it all. Belong gives you a powerful and effective way to connect with your employees about their rewards, careers and well-being.
With its embedded virtual assistant, Belong transforms each interaction into the easy, personalized, consumer-grade experience your employees have come to expect.