Paper Touts Advantages of Improved Benefits Communication

Colonial Life contends that employers who discount the value of communication risk wasting their company’s considerable human capital investment. According to a press release, the report shows that employers can expect to realize key business and competitive advantages when they implement a strong benefits communication and education program, including decreased turnover, enhanced recruiting, increased enrollments, reduced benefits administration, more engaged and loyal employees, and improved productivity.

Research findings revealed in “Benefiting the Bottom Line: How a Strong Benefits Communication and Education Strategy Helps Drive Business” include:

• 90% of employers surveyed agree it’s important to their business that employees understand and appreciate their benefits, but only 21% say their employees actually have a good understanding of them.
• 94% of employers are interested in gaining access to resources to help educate employees about benefits.
• 90% of employers said having one-to-one meetings significantly improves employees’ understanding of their benefits.
• 85% of employees feel happy about their benefits enrollment when their employer gives them all the resources needed to make informed decisions.

The announcement said the paper also outlines key considerations for employers when creating or improving their benefits communication, including interactivity, one-to-one support, multiple touchpoints, convenience, and engaging employees throughout their employment lifecycle.

Effective benefits communication strategies do not have to add expenses or administrative burdens for employers, according to the paper.

The white paper is here .