Communication is key when it comes to employee benefit plans

Copyright 2009 Crain CommunicationsAll rights reserved Business Insurance

9 February 2009

BENEFITS MANAGEMENT; Pg 13

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Communication is key when it comes to employee benefit plans, employers are working hard to inform employees about choices

LOUISE KERTÉSZ



More employers to communicate the employer and optional in the context of a total compensation package that meets a range of needs of employees, consultants say.

Employers to take all the benefits of communication are voluntary benefits such as welfare programs and even homeowners insurance with the employer-paid benefits such as medical insurance. Typically, employers do so under the registration process while some do so at different times of the year based on the news or the employer of all the benefits of the communication strategy, experts say.

Consultants advise approaches using multi-shipments, including at home with messages to the employee and his family, information on the web, small group meetings and health fairs. Mixed approaches are needed to achieve the four different `` groups''-mature generations, baby boomers, Generation X and Generation Y to the diversity of the workforce today, "said Suzanne Johnson , Director of Communications at Buck Consultants LLC in Secaucus, NJ

`` Employers are finding every possible way that they cost much money to attract, retain and motivate employees,''said Johnson. `` People are looking for savings and well-being of improvements they can find.''

Volunteers serve two purposes benefit, she said.

Timken Co., a friction management and power transmission supplier, the views of voluntary benefits in the context of `` a set (of benefits), not as an offer, but that choice, and hopefully it, affordability, the leverage of the buying power of our organization to help manage the needs of employees outside of work,''said Matt Evans, Head of Communications-promotion and organization global human resources, the total remuneration of the Group in Canton, Ohio-based Timken.

John Finney, senior communication consultant at Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Detroit and Timken profit consultant, said he sees increased interest among employers in the Commission `` image''de the benefits. It is transmitted by the presentation of all benefits divided into categories such as health and welfare, holidays, work / life and personal needs, the latter being voluntary where the benefits may be included.

`` Employers have different ways of segmenting the benefits ...'', said Johnson, `` the more progressive, but employers have some ...'' approach to their communication.

`` A peu''Hewitt Associates Inc Your Total Rewards customers use a Web site designed by Hewitt, said Joann Swenson Hall, a major in the practice of communication Hewitt in Minneapolis. `` We recommend that the best approach, a place to have all the advantages and visually showing how they work together,''she said.

`` Bodies in the past have tended to bury (optional), but that employers are trying to get everything that they can be employed, it is a good place to work and to encourage them to engage more Voluntary benefits are those of the cobwebs,''said Swenson.

As an indicator of the growth in total compensation including benefits volunteers, a 2008 survey by Buck Consultants found that 67% of respondents have or intend to implement a rewards program online total, against 42 % five years earlier.

Watson Wyatt Mr. Finney said he is particularly important to communicate the value of benefits when the volunteer organizations are making changes, because most `` (changes) are to prevail, such as increasing premiums and franchises.''

`` If the employer is increasing deductibles and copays on medical, the (company) ... May position to broker a voluntary program to cover sundry expenses for the employer benefits paid,''said Bonnie Brazzelli, vp in Avon, Conn.-based Eastbridge Consulting Group Inc, which has clients including insurers provide services mainly volunteers.

Ms. Brazzelli, which is based in Columbia, SC, said an employer to move to a high-deductible health care with a health savings account could communicate his broker that voluntary hospital indemnity, personal injury and the critical illness insurance are compatible with the high deductible plan.

Choosing the right time and the tactical objectives are essential to the voluntary benefits, "said Swenson. For example, a client communication including Hewitt on cancer insurance in a well-being revealed that the awareness campaign for cancer, she says.

While employees understand why they need the employer health insurance optional `` must be explained, there is a lot more attention (in communications) what are the needs that the employee may have and solutions to these needs,''said Ms. Brazzelli. Telling a story about how a voluntary benefit met an employee needs, while preserving the privacy of the employee is often the best way to educate staff about the benefits of value, "says Finney.

It is important to coordinate information providers so as not to overload the staff, "said Finney.

`` We leverage the resources that offer,''said Timken's Evans. New York-based MetLife Inc., which provides voluntary Timken home, auto and long-term care insurance and legal services, `` generates items at home, but we are working to co-brand those in an appropriate manner, so that our employees understand that this is part of the Timken Co.''

Art Legend: Recruitment and retention

13 February 2009

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