We have to plan what we can do to help employees make good choices and provide them with information via a coordinated enrollment communications plan. These elements help:

• Pre-enrollment communications such as email notices and web banners, and on-site promos like posters and table tents

• Informational on-site group meetings and/or webinars covering all shifts

• Access to a call center during open enrollment and a help line for new hires and life event changes during the year

• Evening webinars or access to call/chat services for employees and their spouses

• Engaging tools such as videos and calculators

• Creative approaches such as contests or prize drawings for all who enter the system

• Recommended product bundles based on key demographics of the employee and their family

• Careful product ordering

• Auto enrollment of prior year choices

• Speaking of employees who have already selected a voluntary plan—make any buy-up option as easy as possible to encourage repeat purchases and accommodate growing needs

• Internal response tracking inside enrollment systems so follow-up emails automatically go from HR to those who have not entered the system, and to those who have not completed the process

Employees have to make their benefits elections in a hurried, nearly thoughtless environment. We can help them make better decisions during that six-minute decision process by active support of an enrollment plan.