One of the most satisfying phrases an employer can hear is "This is a great place to work." That brief but emphatic endorsement from an employee is an indicator of insightful leadership and effective human resource strategies. The accolade is not easy to come by – only two out of five workers feel that their employer merits that recommendation, according to MetLife's 11th Annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends. However, the research found that employees who strongly endorse their employer are three times more likely to be satisfied with their benefits than other workers.
In addition, three out of five employees who would strongly recommend their employer say benefits are an important reason why they remain with their company. Brokers can play a key role in helping to examine employers' benefits strategies and offer insights that can potentially generate more employees who advocate for their organizations.
"The linkage between positive employee attitudes and satisfaction with benefits underscores how a strategic benefits program translates into more satisfied employees," commented Anthony J. Nugent, executive vice president, MetLife. "The research shows that an employee advocate is also a loyal employee. Employees who strongly recommend their company as a 'great place to work' are about four times more loyal than those who are less positive about their workplace," added Nugent.
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Voluntary benefits can play an important part in employers' recruitment and retention strategies. The rapidly growing presence of voluntary benefits in the workplace is borne out by MetLife research, which found that 58% of employers who offer benefits say voluntary products are a significant part of their benefits strategy, a jump from only 32% in 2010. The study also shows that 62% of employees surveyed are interested in having more voluntary benefits to choose from. Brokers can advise employers on how these benefits can be used to build satisfaction, attract talent, and still keep costs under control.
Successful implementation of an expanded benefits strategy to create more employee advocates requires a robust, clear communications effort that can help employees understand how benefits work in specific life situations. In fact, employees who give higher grades to their communications are more likely to cite that their employer made them aware of the need and availability for protection benefits as a key reason they obtained coverage. Effective communications also are associated with greater loyalty and benefits satisfaction. Employees who graded their employers' benefits communications an A or a B were more than three times as satisfied with their benefits and nearly twice as loyal to their employers in comparison to those who gave lower grades.
Brokers should also encourage clients to look at other aspects of the enrollment process. Employers who are very satisfied with their employees' voluntary benefits participation are more likely to provide the following enrollment features:
• Confirmation of benefits selections sent to each employee
• Ongoing education about benefits after employees have enrolled
• Enrollment opportunities throughout the year
• Personalized benefits messages and materials that reflect individual needs and/or life stages
• Suggested benefits actions and product options sent to employees in response to life events such as marriage or a new baby
"What the research is telling us is that creating a strategic voluntary benefits program to complement employer-paid benefits is a multi-faceted effort," added Nugent. "The educational and enrollment aspects are as important as product selection. Brokers can use their insight and expertise to help employers address all aspects of a robust voluntary benefits strategy."
Findings from the MetLife study with actionable steps for using benefits programs as a more strategic tool to meet talent objectives can be found online at BenefitTrends.MetLife.com. Additional insights from MetLife's 11th Annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends will be added to the website throughout the year, and visitors to the website can sign-up to receive automatic updates as new data is posted.
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