Benefits Satisfaction = Loyal Employees

Have you ever heard, “A happy employee is a productive employee?” This mantra holds true at all levels when it comes to the state of mind while at work. It is not only important to value & respect the time, efforts, and opinions of employees, but employers also need to provide a work environment that fosters growth for the team and the individuals. Not surprisingly, majority of workers put a benefits package at the top of the job requirement list, sometimes even above wages, and employers should take note. With the cost of healthcare continuing to rise and healthcare reform on the horizon, companies should take stock of what they offer & educate their employees on what is provided. What a disservice it is to pay for benefits & then not utilize them or even understand them! Satisfaction with benefits is directly related to employee loyalty and many workers would look for employment elsewhere if the opportunity arose for improved conditions. How can you accomplish this? 1) Take advantage of open enrollment; schedule individual meetings with each employee to review benefit options. 2) Set up a timeline for announcing various programs the insurance carrier offers, from online maintenance, wellness programs, cost estimators, etc. These can be discussed at a monthly or quarterly meeting or given to employees via memo or email. Employers can even set up a monthly email campaign to address these benefit features. 3) Engage your employees in the control of their healthcare costs. Remind them that they can do things such as ask for generic medications when available versus brand drugs. You can also initiate a wellness incentive program for improving the health of your workers. Many employers offer gift cards or additional paid time off for participation in programs for exercise, smoking cessation, or control of a chronic health condition. These are intended to be an open invitation for employees with rewards for participation, not punishment for rejecting participation.

As your insurance agent, we encourage you to contact us to see what resources for wellness your plan offers. Happier/healthier Employees = Loyal Employees = Better Workplace. What’s not to like about that equation?