Open enrollment can seem like a daunting task for employers and human resource professionals–especially with a hybrid workforce.
The days of meeting in person about benefits plans are over. The pandemic has caused many companies to switch to either a fully remote or hybrid work model. As a result, employers must adjust their open enrollment strategies to help employees meet their healthcare needs. Here are some helpful tips for navigating open enrollment with a hybrid workforce.
Start early
Don’t wait to start open enrollment initiatives. The earlier you communicate, the more time employees have to ask questions and utilize open enrollment resources. When it comes to a hybrid workforce, an online portal or software platform is a great tool for communicating open enrollment materials. You can send push notifications every time a document is added, and all communication can be stored in one easily accessible place.
Give employees enrollment flexibility
Providing more time and options when managing open enrollment in a hybrid model is critical. Some employees might already know which benefits they want to include in their plan, while others may need help discussing their options. It’s important to offer flexibility when enrolling. Consider offering virtual office hours for those who prefer to discuss their benefits options in a one-on-one setting. Or allow for on-site enrollment options for those who want an in-person enrollment experience.
Address important topics and updates
Make sure to educate employees on important topics and updates, such as enrollment options and new benefit changes. It’s also important to make sure employees have digital and physical access to this information. With employees in different locations, it’s critical to communicate through channels that reach all employees. Consider both on-site methods of media like posters and internal meetings, as well as virtual channels including intranets, email, and chat platforms.
Streamline the enrollment process
Once enrollment is open, review the actual enrollment process to make sure it is as easy as possible. A great way to do this is through a benefits administration platform that has decision support tools to guide users through the open enrollment process. Not only does this help employees select the best plans, but it also makes resources, support, and helpful documents readily available at any time, on their desktop or mobile devices.
The Clarity Benefits Administration solution streamlines the entire employee benefits administration lifecycle with a platform that is highly configurable and designed to automate the entire HR, benefits and payroll process. This frees up much-needed HR time and allows you to focus on growing your business.
Let Clarity simplify open enrollment for you
We know open enrollment can be confusing and difficult to navigate. Whether you’re fully remote, hybrid, or back in the office, our benefits solutions help address the new realities in benefits, providing more value to your business. Contact us today to find out how we can help streamline the benefits process for you.
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