Almost all employees who participate in one-on-one benefits counseling sessions during enrollment say they have a greater understanding of their employer-sponsored benefits.
According to a post-enrollment survey by Colonial Life, 96% who take part in individual benefits counseling sessions say they better understand their benefits. Of the more than 15,000 workers in the United States, 47% of employees also say the benefits counseling sessions significantly improved their understanding while 63% saying it’s very important to have an adviser help them understand their benefits.
“Today, more than ever, employers need to gain maximum value from the benefits they provide,” says Randy Horn, president & CEO of Colonial Life. “The investment made in providing a strong benefits package is lost if employees don’t understand and appreciate what they’re offered. These surveys show that personal counseling during a benefits enrollment session clearly enhances understanding, which is good news for employers and employees.”
Plan sponsors spend a lot of money providing benefits for plan participants, yet research shows the vast majority of them don’t think their employees really understand their benefits packages. Less than 20% of employers think their employees have a very good understanding of their benefits. Meanwhile, nearly 5% think their employees know nothing at all about their benefits.
“Employers that provide good benefits communication and education through one-to-one counseling can feel better knowing their efforts are making a difference,” says Horn. “With an overall employee satisfaction rate of 94%, one-to-one benefits counseling offers employers confidence that enrollers are actually educating their workforce — not simply selling products.”
