'Tis open enrollment season. That time of year HR and their plan providers have been planning for since last open enrollment, and like many of us who have ever had to host a holiday gathering, are up to their ears in chaos, often just hoping they make it through in one piece.

The past couple of years have been particularly difficult. HR has had to communicate unpopular changes in their employee benefits such as reduced or eliminated matches, frozen pensions–if they still have one–and higher health care costs.

HR is busy trying to put out the fires started by confusion and disgruntled employees, and amidst it all, are often missing opportunities to gain more participation in their benefits plans. This may sound crazy to those seeing worse participation, but we've seen employers do it by helping their employees better understand how to use their benefits.