Talk to me

Employers use a variety of methods to communicate or introduce employees to the voluntary benefits that are available to them. The most common are email or newsletters provided by the employer (57%), information available on the employer's website or mobile app (44%) and printed material provided at work or home (40%). These are also the top three communication methods employees say are most helpful. Virtual meetings, one-on-one meetings with a benefits counselor, and benefit fairs are farther down the list of employers' methods at 17% to 18%. Yet speaking with someone in person is the second-most popular employee preference for learning about voluntary benefits. This is especially true for those in smaller firms with fewer than 100 employees, who are significantly more likely than employees at larger companies to express a strong preference for a personal approach.

Size matters

That good vs. great question mentioned above? Employees in the smallest businesses (fewer than 50 employees) are a bit more likely than other size groups to say they're satisfied with their enrollment overall, but they're much less likely to be very satisfied with the enrollment process overall. By the way, they're also much more likely to say they're not satisfied or not at all satisfied. Very few employees in larger size firms gave these responses. Employees overall give the highest combined satisfied and completely satisfied ratings to the simplicity of the application process (79%), feeling their needs were identified (78%), the technology used in the buying process is easy to use (77%), the technology is helpful (77%), and they receive adequate information, support and advice (77%). But again, employees in the smallest firms rate all these aspects of their enrollment lower than average.

Instant Insights /

How good enrollments get in the way of great enrollments

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