27 Jan Creating Value through Employee Communication

Value….is a heavy-hitting word in and outside of the workplace, but one that is often skipped over.  Depending on the person, the word value can construe feelings of loyalty or feelings of cheapness or inaccessibility.  The trick with your Employee Communication strategy is to not only create value, but to ensure that the value is perceived in a way that will benefit your company and its employees.

Here are some tips for creating Value through Employee Communication:

• Communicate what your benefit programs include:  How can an employee think your benefit plan is valuable if they do not understand what it includes or how to access it.  The old adage, “I have been paying for benefits for years, but never find out they were worth it until I get the emergency room bill.”  If employees have a better understanding of not only what their benefits plan includes, but also how those benefits can be effectively applied in their daily lives to assist them with their health, finances, etc then the employee will be more likely to utilize those benefits.
• Provide “real-life” definition for all the “benefits lingo”:  If a doctor walked into your room and just rattled off your blood test results as they are presented on the sheet from the lab, you would be overwhelmed and confused.  You wouldn’t feel comfortable using that information anywhere else for other purposes, because you did not understand it.  Employees view their benefits similarly.  Most benefits communication on the how they work and what the terminology means is way over the head of even many of the most intelligent employees.  Find fun and simple ways to drive home the glossary of benefit terminology, and you will see your adoption rates and value perception increase!
• Involve employees in the communications process:  Find ways to use the communications tools available in your company, along with the talent and enthusiasm of your people, to allow free flow of benefits communication.
• Hold your employees accountable for communicated information.  Far too many organizations allow their employees to depend on the organization for feeding them information, instead of providing opportunities to get informed and educated.  Deliver positive rewards and accountability standards to encourage your employees to become educated and involved in their benefit programs.
• Provide an Opportunity for Feedback:  Employees will most always readily communicate their opinions on successful or failed company strategies when those communication doors are open.  Provide a consistent opportunity for employees to provide feedback on their benefit programs.  Encourage candid opinions and show that their opinions are heard, by communicating summaries and strategies related to that feedback regularly.

Contact us today to understand more about developing a winning combination of benefit strategy and strong employee communication.  Capitalize on our expertise!  We can provide you with an evaluation of your existing strategies with no strings attached.