Offering voluntary benefits is an excellent way to strengthen your overall benefits package, stand out from competitors, and enhance employee satisfaction—all with minimal impact on your budget. However, while employers often provide a wide range of voluntary benefits designed to offer value and convenience, many employees may not fully understand what these benefits are or how they can help. Educating your workforce about the advantages of voluntary benefits ensures both employers and employees gain maximum value.
Showcasing the Value
Employees may not always recognize the value of voluntary benefits, particularly since these options are typically employee-funded. These benefits, which may include options like life insurance, disability coverage, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, cancer insurance or even legal and pet insurance, provide added security and convenience without significantly increasing employer costs.
For example, voluntary insurance purchased through an employer group is often more affordable than an individual policy—but few employees realize this. When highlighting voluntary benefits, clearly explain the advantages of being covered, the potential risks of going without protection, and the convenience of enrolling through payroll deductions.
Promoting Coverage Understanding
Employee education is vital to preventing confusion and frustration about what a policy covers. Misunderstandings can lead to resentment if employees expect coverage that isn’t actually included. To avoid these situations, ensure every employee—whether their benefit is employer-paid or voluntary—understands how the coverage works.
Consider the following strategies to strengthen benefits education:
- Invite current employees to attend orientation or periodic benefits meetings.
- Ask benefit providers to send representatives to explain their products directly to staff.
- Schedule small-group sessions for employees who have detailed questions.
- Leverage social media to share educational materials, reminders, and benefit updates in an accessible way.
Strengthening Employer Value
Beyond increasing participation in voluntary benefits, investing in employee education helps position your organization as a trusted source of benefits knowledge. This approach not only boosts engagement but also strengthens employee satisfaction and loyalty to your company.