As employers and employees grapple with the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic, the role of employee benefits is more important than ever. Companies who have an employee-first approach have an opportunity to meet the needs of their employee's health and wellness with a thoughtful employee benefits strategy. The challenge, however, is that many employees lack understanding and/or ignore how benefits can help. In times like these, it's imperative that employers and benefits advisors ask themselves, how can we create a digital enrollment experience that is efficient and cost effective and will help ensure employees understand the benefits offering?

Recent surveys indicate most employees do not fully understand the benefits offered to them. In fact, the average score on Guardian's 2020 Employee Benefits I.Q. Quiz is a 70%, or C on a standard grading scale. Among single parents and millennials, scores were lowest, averaging 38% and 39% respectively. These findings confirm that workplace satisfaction comes from more than just the benefits offered; it also includes how those benefits are communicated and how employees are enrolled.

Fifteen years ago, brokers, employers and employees were mired in paperwork, and although many aspects of the employee experience have been digitalized and automated today, benefits administration continues to lag. After all, what HR function actually requires employees to sign a form with a pen? In this age of texting, it's counterintuitive to present a new hire with reams of environmentally questionable paper forms to complete.