What are the key challenges and opportunities of using digital platforms for benefits communication?

Regardless of the system you use for benefits comms., you still need a team of quality benefits staff to educate employees, build rapport with staff, ensure proper maintenance is given to the system, and who can run open enrollment with their eyes closed since this is where your benefits ESS will pay off the most in ROI. Additionally, as a company, you need a quality benefits system to optimize your benefits elections (and changes) record-keeping since you will need this data during your yearly audit (H&W 5500's). A quality system and proper adherence to process, protocol, and state and federal regulations, will help your company in the long term but corners can never be cut in the benefits department even with a quality benefits system.

At the end of the day, Technology is a tool and it will make it easier and more efficient to communicate benefits to employees as well as maintain and administrate benefit plans. A key factor when it comes to benefits like for example Share option plans, LTIPs etc, is that there is a huge margin of error that can occur, which costs organizations millions of dollars each year. By automating these processes it takes a big burden off the HR teams. However, it needs to be remembered in technology it will always be garbage in garbage out. So the only way for technology to be effective is to have the right policies and procedures in place (for the specific company...) and a team that understands the benefits and can operate the technology.

Zugang über private Accounts und von allen Endgeräten aus ist essentiell, da sich Mitarbeitende oft außerhalb der Arbeitszeit mit Benefits beschäftigen. Doch ohne klare Kommunikation und die Befähigung von Führungskräften, über diese Leistungen zu informieren, bleibt das Potenzial ungenutzt. Führungskräfte müssen aktiv die Nutzung der Benefits vermitteln, sie sind am dichtesten an den Mitarbeitenden dran. Eine Kombination aus technologischer Zugänglichkeit und effektiver Kommunikation ist entscheidend für die Bekanntheit und Nutzung.

Barrierefreiheit bei digitalen Plattformen ist essenziell. Die Entwicklung gemäß den Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) garantiert, dass alle Mitarbeitenden gleichberechtigten Zugang haben. Dies fördert nicht nur Inklusion und Gleichberechtigung, sondern zeigt auch die Wertschätzung des Unternehmens für jede:n Mitarbeiter:in.

For some companies, digital platforms make all the sense in the world. For others, they present a barrier for their employees to access, make changes to, and understand their benefits. The decision to use a digital platform for employee benefits should come down to how the employees naturally interact with management. If they are tech savvy and independent then a digital platform will likely work well. If the workforce is older and used to using paper forms and making phone calls, then a digital platform probably shouldn't be relied on as the primary means of communicating benefits to the employees.

AI-Technologien können die Kommunikation über digitale Plattformen verbessern, indem sie sicherstellen, dass Mitarbeitende nur die für sie relevanten Informationen erhalten. Durch personalisierte Inhalte wird die Nutzung der Leistungen gefördert.

Always add a "Most asked questions" to the employee site. Also have a way for employees to reach a person when they have other questions. The chief complaint that I hear is not being able to get answers, emails and calls go unanswered. They signed up for benefits one time and never had any interaction again. Having a quarterly flyer that goes out to employee emails is a good way to keep engagement open.

It's the human touch factor that counts in addition to a great benefits ESS with a great communication plan. If employees have questions, concerns, or feedback to provide that never gets addressed, a quality benefits system or communications platform will not be able to fill this gap since employees want results and someone to hear their concerns. Build FAQs, but hire great dedicated benefits staff who are willing to be client-facing and who will connect with staff, educate them, build a strong rapport with them, and provide that quality high-touch employee benefits service that can help make your company an employer of choice.

Das Bündeln aller Mitarbeiterbenefits an einem Ort und deren klare Kommunikation ist essentiell. Aktuell kennen nur etwa 9% der Arbeitnehmer:innen alle ihnen zustehenden Benefits. Diese Lücke zeigt, wie wichtig eine transparente Darstellung und Kommunikation ist.

Whilst a benefits platform can be useful, employers should first concentrate on building a robust benefits offering. There is no point providing a platform (particularly one which carries a cost) when there are only a handful of benefits on offer. Conversely, a company with a well developed benefits offering should always seek a comms platform to ensure benefits are used & understood.