Motivating Employees to Spend More Time With Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment: A Critical Opportunity for Employees and Employers

As we move into the open enrollment season, it’s important to pause and reflect on how significant this period is for both employees and employers. Open enrollment provides employees with the opportunity to make critical decisions regarding their benefits packages, impacting not only their health and financial well-being but also their overall job satisfaction.

Yet, despite its importance, many employees rush through the process, missing key opportunities to optimize their benefits. A study by Voya Financial highlights this trend, revealing that nearly 70% of employees spend 30 minutes or less reviewing their options. More concerning, a majority simply reselect the same benefits year after year without considering changes to their personal needs or circumstances.

So how can employers motivate their workforce to spend more time during open enrollment and, more importantly, make informed decisions that benefit their long-term well-being?

Strategies to Encourage Active Participation in Open Enrollment

Here are several strategies employers can adopt to encourage employees to engage more deeply in the open enrollment process:

1. Education Is Key: A lack of understanding is one of the primary reasons employees don't invest time in reviewing their benefits. Employers can address this by offering educational resources such as interactive workshops, webinars, or easy-to-read guides. It’s also helpful to break down complex topics into digestible formats like FAQs and comparison charts, allowing employees to absorb critical information quickly.
2. Leverage Technology: Make the open enrollment process easy and engaging through technology. User-friendly platforms that offer centralized access to benefits information, comparison tools, and even personalized decision-making support can empower employees. Importantly, ensure that the platform is mobile-friendly so that employees can make thoughtful decisions in consultation with their families, no matter where they are.
3. Foster Engagement Among Younger Employees: Younger employees, particularly those in Generation Z, tend to spend less time reviewing benefits options. Encouraging them to take the process seriously can be done by providing extra support, such as one-on-one consultations or mentorship from more experienced colleagues who can share insights about the long-term benefits of careful selection.
4. Provide Year-Round Support: Benefits education shouldn't be confined to open enrollment season. Continuous communication about the value of these benefits—along with clear information on how benefits decisions impact financial well-being—helps employees recognize the importance of making informed choices when open enrollment does come around.
5. Create a Culture of Engagement: A benefits-enriched culture can foster active participation. Employers can solicit feedback about the enrollment process, make improvements based on that feedback, and recognize employees who are actively involved in their benefits decisions. The key is to maintain an ongoing conversation about benefits, making it part of a broader culture of engagement and informed decision-making.

Why It Matters for Employers

Motivating employees to engage deeply in the open enrollment process is not just about ensuring they make the right choices—it’s about building a culture of informed decision-making. Employees who feel supported and well-informed are more likely to make benefits decisions that optimize their health and financial security. In the long run, this translates to higher job satisfaction, improved well-being, and a more engaged and productive workforce.

Your Action Plan: As an employer or benefits professional, think about how you can implement some of these strategies to drive better participation this open enrollment season. Whether it's hosting workshops, leveraging tech tools, or fostering a culture of year-round benefits engagement, the payoff is well worth the effort.

If you need guidance on enhancing your open enrollment process, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to help you strategize and implement a plan that fits your workforce needs.