Most employees would admit their main focus when making important benefit decisions during open enrollment is centered on selecting offerings such as medical, life or retirement. While understandable, it usually leaves them spending little time reviewing their choices for other important benefits – and with possibly less understanding of the value they can deliver. 

When you consider that more than one-third of employees report not fully understanding any of the employee benefits they've enrolled in, there's clearly an opportunity to ramp up awareness, communication and education to help employees choose the benefits best suited to their individual needs. 

It all starts with creating awareness that the benefit is available to employees. Then, employers must tap into the communication channels that most effectively reach different segments of the employee population, many of whom are working virtually. And the ultimate goal is to educate the workforce on how the benefit works – and the ways it will add value to employees' lives.