As summer turns to fall and open enrollment approaches, every head of people and HR team member knows to brace for the busy season. For most of the year, benefits are an afterthought for many employees, but as the time to re-up or change their health insurance arrives, employees have questions. Lots of them. And they ask them all at once. Sound familiar?

Here's the thing: Open lines of communication are essential for the modern workplace. Transparency is a priority across departments, but HR teams must work especially hard to make certain that employees are maximizing the benefits of their benefits package. In a perfect world, every employee would be taking a hard look at their current coverage and planning around any known upcoming life changes. If you're planning to grow your family or if your circumstances have changed, reach out to your HR rep to walk you through your coverage.