By Caitlin Far, senior communications consultant, Burnham Benefits Insurance Services
With the unemployment rate now below five percent, workers feeling more confident about leaving their current position in search of a new situation, and job openings expanding, employers are increasingly relying on the power of their benefit packages to not only attract talent, but retain existing employees.
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While 401Ks and vacation time are typically given top billing, an organization’s healthcare offering is an essential tool in driving superior individuals to the workplace, and holding on to the accomplished leaders already present.
Add to that mix the financial advantages of health benefits education for firms: potential reductions in plan renewal costs as employees become wiser healthcare consumers, a reduced rate of absenteeism as workers manage their health better, and increasing productivity levels generated by greater employee engagement—and a compelling case can be made for providing a first-rate health benefits education program.
Interestingly, even though a company may have a top notch mix of premier health plans with low deductibles and employee premiums, along with robust network choices, if the merit of these features is not communicated correctly, workers may not value, understand, or utilize their critical health benefits in an effective manner.
That scenario leaves both employers and employees missing out on the substantive advantages of offering healthcare benefits, which underscores the need for organizations to develop a detailed communication strategy to educate workers on the importance of their healthcare offering. What follows is a blueprint for human resource leadership and corporate executives to do just that.