August 16, 2012
--- More than
half of employers surveyed (55.6%) report that the effectiveness of their
benefits communication efforts has improved during the last three years. ---
However, nearly half (45.4%) are not satisfied with their
current communications strategy, and an additional 28% are ambivalent,
according to the 2012 Inside Benefits Communication survey from Benz
Communications. Seventy-eight percent of employers cite getting employees
engaged year-round among their biggest challenges, yet fewer than one-third
(28.9%) are communicating with employees year-round.
Employers’ top goals include executing a successful annual
enrollment (60%), increasing workers’ use of preventive care (48%) and
increasing employees’ 401(k) savings. Fewer than one-quarter (24%) report
meeting these goals last year; 18.8% are not sure.
Only 24.2% are connecting their benefits strategy to their
company’s bigger business strategy; fewer than half (46.9%) try. More than
half (54.6%) do not document their benefits communication strategy, and 41%
state they are not sure if their benefits communication efforts are helping
them meet their goals.
More than two-thirds (68.3%) report budgets of less than
$25,000 for benefits communication; 10.1% report budgets between $25,000 and
$75,000. The majority of these budgets are not being spent strategically. For
example, two-thirds (66%) report print and postage costs (one-time
non-renewable expenses) as consuming most of their budget.
The full survey report can be downloaded from here.
Rebecca Moore