Towergate Employee Benefits’ latest research shows that only 39% employers think their employees understand the full range employee benefits offered.
Quantity is not as important as quality
The hybrid working model is causing employers to have difficulty communicating the support that they provide. Many employees are now working from home, either part-time or full-time. In an effort to resolve the communication problems, 62% employers claim they are now communicating health and wellness support more frequently. Making communications relevant for employees is still a problem. 43% of employers say they have difficulty targeting specific messages at specific groups in the workforce.
Debra C. Clark, Head of Wellbeing, Towergate Employee Benefits says: It’s good to see employers understand the importance of communicating employee benefits, but in many cases current processes aren’t sufficient. Employers must now fully understand their options and use the tools available to improve communication of employee benefits.
Utilising digital options
Just over half (55%) of employers say that they are now focusing more on digital health-and-wellbeing communications through apps and digital platforms. It could be due to the fact that hybrid workplaces are more common, or because it is a better way to communicate with more people.
There are many reasons for employers to use digital benefit platforms. They include:
- All benefits are easier to view in one place
- We can communicate employee benefits 33%
- The employee can now use their benefits more easily 32%
- Employees can access benefits at any time 32%
- It allows employees to make their own choices of benefits 31%
Digital communication of employee benefits allows for messages to be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual employee. Certain groups and demographics can also be targeted with targeted and appropriate communications. It can be linked to employee benefit platforms where employees can view the benefits available to them.
Debra clark concludes “Employees understanding of benefits should be a priority, and this can only be achieved through careful communication.” If employees don’t know and understand what benefits are available, they won’t use them and employers will lose value.
The first time HR News published the post Only 4 out of 10 employees believed they understood their employee benefits.
