A recent report discovered that the turnover rate is the same in organizations that don’t offer employee benefits and those that do, but don’t effectively communicate them. There’s a good chance you have an employee benefits communication strategy in place. But what if it’s not the right one for your employees? Check out this simple guide to tailoring your communication method to your non-traditional employees. It can ensure your employees make the most of their employee benefits!
For remote employees
In 2018, it was reported that 3.9 million Americans worked from home to fulfill at least half of their working hours. Anyone who has worked remotely knows the advantages: more flexibility, productivity, and engagement. But, from an HR professional’s perspective, it raises some difficulties. How can you properly communicate with an employee that you rarely see? It might be hard, but it’s definitely not impossible.
Want to effectively communicate your employee benefits to your remote workers? Turn to the digital possibilities. Remote workers are typically glued to their phones and/or work computers during their working hours. Therefore, digital communication works well here. However, that doesn’t mean you can send a quick ping and hope that the job is done! We recommend a user-friendly website or portal that houses all of your employee benefits offerings. Use email communication to consistently remind remote workers that this exists and is a great resource for any questions or concerns regarding benefits.
For part-time employees
Unlike remote workers, most part-timers aren’t in front of their computers all day. It’s also likely that their benefits suite differs significantly from that of a corporate employee. Whether the benefits you’re offering are run-of-the-mill or part of a more unique voluntary benefits suite, they can be instrumental in helping to retain your employees. In an industry like retail, where the part-time employee turnover rate sits at over 60 percent, employee loyalty is a must.
Want to effectively communicate employee benefits to part-time employees? Reach them at their place of work with physical pieces of communication. Make them specific and interesting, and offer an easy call to action so your employees understand the next steps they should take to learn more about benefits programs. You know your employees best, so consider what you could create that would inspire employees to engage – flyers, posters, and electronic displays are all great ideas you could execute. Give some thought to where to place them so your employees see them.
For gig employees
In recent years, we’ve seen a dramatic spike in the number of gig workers that make up the workforce. In fact, online surveys believe employees who reported engaging with gig work the month before make up between 25 and 30 percent of today’s workforce. However, nearly 9 out of every 10 gig workers has another form of income, meaning the benefits you offer are more than likely supplemental benefits. Keep in mind, these supplemental benefits can be a great tool to attract more employees, so it’s important you communicate them to both prospective and existing employees.
Want to effectively communicate employee benefits to gig employees? Take advantage of the method of communication you currently use to send messages and other important data. For many gig employees, this will be an app or website easily accessed on smartphones or mobile devices. Because they are already comfortable using this platform, it makes the most sense to seamlessly introduce benefits communications to it. Be sure to give ample indication to employees that their benefits can be accessed on an app. Assist them by providing a guide that explains just how to browse through the offerings.
According to SHRM, only 19 percent of employers believe that their employees have a high level of understanding regarding their employee benefits. In addition, 80 percent of organizations reported that their employees don’t even open or read their benefits communications. One possible reason? The communication strategy was developed without employees in mind! When it comes to your non-traditional employees, make sure you strongly consider how they best digest and engage with employer communications and develop your strategy around that.
Don’t forget, PerkSpot is here to help! We realize the importance of tailoring a communication strategy explicitly for the employees. That’s why we have a team of account managers dedicated to creating communications that work for your workforce. Click here to learn about what we can do for you.
