Let’s be honest: Most employees aren’t ignoring their benefits because they don’t care. It’s because what we’re saying isn’t cutting through the noise.
They’re not disengaged. In fact, most people care a great deal about their benefits; they’re just overloaded and overwhelmed.
Between overflowing inboxes, nonstop pings, and a thousand other to-dos, it’s no wonder a 20-page PDF or generic OE email blast barely gets a glance (or gets skipped altogether).
As a benefits communicator (and self-proclaimed data nerd), I’ve learned that better communication isn’t about saying more. It’s about saying what matters, when it matters.
In today’s world, employees don’t need another information dump. They need a guide.
We can’t expect people to absorb everything all at once and then remember what to do six months later, or worse, remember what to do in a medical emergency. Instead, we need to shift from "tell everything during Open Enrollment" to a “guide-by-moments” strategy. They shouldn’t feel more stress than they already do when it’s time to:
These are real-life decisions, each with a moment that matters. And each moment is an opportunity to communicate with empathy, clarity, and action.
To really connect, we need to talk like humans, not handbooks.
When we treat benefits communication as a personalized experience rather than a yearly checklist, we empower employees to make informed decisions about their health and their families.
When people understand what’s in front of them and what to do next, they act with confidence. They choose better-fit plans. They utilize their preventive care benefits and access support earlier. That’s not just better engagement; it’s better outcomes for everyone.
Because in the end, benefits only matter and have value if people know how and when to use them.
Let’s stop talking at employees and start guiding their benefits experience through the moments that matter.
#BenefitsCommunication #OpenEnrollment #EmployeeExperience #HealthLiteracy #TotalWellbeing #HRStrategy #Empyrean