As open enrollment season approaches, HR teams and employers face a critical challenge: how to effectively communicate benefits options to employees in a way that empowers them to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, many employees remain in the dark when it comes to understanding the benefits available to them, risking choices that could impact their health, financial wellbeing, and long-term satisfaction. Today's workers are preoccupied; they're busy at work and home, don't have much free time, and are overwhelmed in general because of the daunting nature of health care and finance.

A recent study found that 1 in 4 employees feel uninformed during open enrollment, which means a significant portion of the workforce may be making decisions based on incomplete or misunderstood information. This can lead to costly mistakes for both employees and employers, affecting not only individual outcomes but also overall organizational performance.

The stakes are high for employers and employees alike

When employees make poor benefits choices, the consequences extend beyond personal inconvenience. Uninformed or rushed decisions can result in higher health care costs, inadequate coverage, and missed opportunities for long-term savings. For employers, this translates to higher costs related to health care claims, increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and employee turnover.