1. Communication and Education: Are Your Employees Getting The Most From Their Benefits?

2. Agenda Why Communication is Important
How We Receive Information – What Do Employees Want?
How Employers Communicate – Survey Says. . .
Bridging the Gap: Communication Strategies

3. Why Communication is Important
MetLife’s 13th Annual Study shows that employers and employees value workplace benefits
73% employees say that having insurance/benefits gives them peace of mind for unexpected health and financial issues
Benefits continue to be a key driving force in employee loyalty and satisfaction
Employers spend at least 20% atop salary for benefits and taxes, with health insurance being the largest portion
And Yet….

4. Why Communication is Important
“More than half of employees (53%) agree – and 30% strongly agree – that they need more help understanding how their benefits work and how they help meet their needs”.
Research shows that participation in Open Enrollment is directly effected by communication.
MetLife’s recent benefit trends study found that “More than ½ of employees (53%) agree – and 3% strongly agree – that they need more help understanding how their benefits work and how they help meet their needs”.

5. Traditionalists Ages 50-90
What Employees Want
1920
1945
1965
1980
1995
Today’s workforce has three distinct generations working together. Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomers.
All of these generations agree that benefits are a key factor in employee loyalty and satisfaction.
There are many things that differentiate these different generations, one of them being how they prefer to receive their benefits communications.
Traditionalists Ages 50-90
Baby Boomers Ages 51-69
Gen X Ages 35-50
Gen Y Ages 20-34

6. What Employees Want Benefits Handbook 1:1 In-Person Meetings
HR Assistance
Provider Websites
Group In-Person Meetings

7. What Employees Want Baby Boomers Benefits Handbook
Meet by phone or face to face
Treat as equals
Include them; hear their input
Offer flexible work schedules
Value teamwork 1 2 3 4 5
Baby Boomers
Benefits Handbook
1:1 In-Person Meetings
HR Assistance
Provider Websites
Employer Website

8. What Employees Want 1:1 In-Person Meetings Benefits Handbook
Employer Website
HR Assistance
Online Decision Support Tools
Benefitspro.com has found that the top 4 methods for communicating with Gen X include:
Embrace virtual marketing – this generation is highly connected and uses the web for online banking and shopping. They are highly influenced by social communities.
Focus on casual informational sessions – Gen Xers tend to have a skepticism towards institutions. If you set up informational sessions in a trusted environment they will feel more connected.
Key in on significant life events – make sure to mention that marriage, divorce, having children and changing jobs are times that they can change and protect their lifestyle
Build in time to ponder – Make sure to educate them with enough time to go back and think about their options.

9. Gen Y What Employees Want 1:1 In-Person Meetings Benefits Handbook
Provider Website
HR Assistance
Employer Website
One thing to note about Gen Y is that they may be new to benefits. Under Obamacare children can stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26. That being said, there is a major opportunity here to educate them from the ground up on existing benefits programs.
Research shows that Gen Y responds best to: online resources, face-to-face meetings, and open lines of communication to offer guidance and support.

10. What Employees Want
Multiple options for communications materials. --- ones that appeal to all different types of learners.
Communications need to be simple and straightforward.
Many employees know the importance of having insurance but tend to get stuck during the shopping process. Communications materials need to be simple and straightforward while also appealing and being relatable to all generations.

11. What Employees Want
When employees receive educational information at least three weeks prior to enrollment they have enough time to:
Take materials home to share with spouse
Evaluate their personal situations
Attend informational meetings, if offered
Consult with trusted relatives or friends
Do some additional research

12. Core Products and Voluntary Enrollments
How Employers Communicate
Most employers enroll their core and voluntary benefits at the same time and use the same platform/method of enrollment.
Core Products and Voluntary Enrollments
FBMC conducted a study with Eastbridge Consulting group where they did qualitative interviews on public employers from October 2012 to November 2012.
Through the study they found that most employers enroll their core and voluntary benefits at the same time and use the same platform/method of enrollment.

13. How Employers Communicate
Self enroll via a website or paper and one-on-one in person meetings are the most commonly used enrollment methods
Enrollment Methods
Our Eastbridge study also found that self enroll via a website or paper and one-on-one in person meetings with employees are the most commonly used enrollment methods for voluntary

14. Enrollment methods vary somewhat by public sector segment
How Employers Communicate
Enrollment methods vary somewhat by public sector segment
Enrollment Methods
Schools, state and city governments use self enroll via website most frequently. County governments use one- on-one meetings the most, whereas hospitals and universities use paper most frequently.
When sectioned out by segment the enrollment methods varied somewhat. Schools and state and city governments use self enroll via website most frequently. County governments use one-on-one meetings the most, whereas hospitals and universities still use paper most frequently.

15. Interest and Use of Communication Tools
How Employers Communicate
Interest and Use of Communication Tools
Public sector employers still rely on and value printed materials to communicate benefits- but the importance of the Internet is increasing.
Printed materials are still very important and website and internet communications importance is rapidly increasing.

16. Importance of Communication Tools (by Segment)
How Employers Communicate
Schools, state, and city employers make greater use of web pages, whereas schools and hospitals offer the most variety of ways to communicate with their employees.
Importance of Communication Tools (by Segment)

17. Communication Strategies
How Employees Prefer to Learn About Benefits
Tools Employers Use and Consider Important
One-On-One In-Person
Printed Materials
Group In-Person Meetings
Benefits Website
Benefits Handbook
Videos
Webinars
Benefits Fairs
Interactive PDFs

18. Targeted Communication Campaigns
Communication Strategies
Targeted Communication Campaigns
Actives
Retirees
Change in Status
LOA
With so many different employee groups in the workforce; Actives, Retirees, Change in Status, LOA it is sometimes simpler to do a target communication campaign for each group.
When targeting a specific group you can capture each audience’s needs better. IE: Retirees may be offered different benefit packages than active employees. If you have targeted communications for each group this will help them better understand what is being offered to them.

19. Themed Enrollment Materials
Communication Strategies
Themed Enrollment Materials

20. Standard Communications
Communication Strategies
Standard Communications
Flyers
Post cards
Posters
Reference Guides s
Direct Mail
In the past employee communications have typically been printed materials such as; flyers, post cards, posters, reference guides and s.

21. Communication Materials
Communication Strategies
Communication Materials

22. Cutting Edge Communication
Communication Strategies
Cutting Edge Communication
Videos
Interactive Games
Interactive Benefit Guides
Info graphics
Social Media
Custom Microsites
Text Message Campaigns
Apps
Today we are seeing more and more entities using the standard materials but also adding many different forms including; videos, interactive games, interactive benefit guides, info graphics, social media, custom microsites, text message campaigns, and apps.

23. Communication Samples – Mobile Apps and Videos
Communication Strategies
Communication Samples – Mobile Apps and Videos
Mobile App
Video

24. Communication Samples - Interactive Game and Infographics
Communication Strategies
Communication Samples - Interactive Game and Infographics
Interactive Game
Inf ographic

25. Communication Samples - Microsite and Social Media
Communication Strategies
Communication Samples - Microsite and Social Media
Microsite
Social Media

26. Takeaways Choices Are Important – One Size Does Not Fit All
Communicate, communicate and communicate again… Employees need your help to understand their benefits
Pay attention to how different generations prefer to learn
Create a strategic, themed enrollment message that supports your goals
Use traditional methods and new technology
Create interactivity to engage employees

27. FBMC Chief Operating Officer
Thank You!
David Faulkenberry
FBMC President
Michelle Robleto
FBMC Chief Operating Officer
(850)