Fridays (with Benefits) - Is talking benefits really THAT bad for employees?

We're right on the verge of open enrollment season, and as much as we may love helping working professionals out with their benefits, we're increasingly learning that talking benefits ranks pretty low for enjoyable activities for most people. We're talking really low.

One in Three U.S. Employees Would Rather Talk About Their Weight Than Their Employer-Offered Benefits - MetLife, Business Wire

According to a new survey sponsored by MetLife that analyzed the actions and prevailing thinking of working professionals around open enrollment, despite how important these decisions are for workers' health and finances, there is little excitement to be had around this time of year. In fact, nearly half dread the open enrollment process as much as asking their boss for a raise, and an astounding 33% would rather talk about their weight than their employee benefits.

Some other metrics that came out of the survey should be enough to keep human resources reps up at night. One in five workers only spend a few minutes on their benefits offerings before making a decision for the year, while respondents said that activities that were preferred slightly higher than the open enrollment process including renewing a passport or driver's license. But any way you slice it, it's not a good report for employee enthusiasm around benefits decisions.

How to improve employee morale this open enrollment

At FSAstore.com, open enrollment is one of our favorite times of the year so we have no idea how to relate to these responses, but this isn't our first benefits rodeo. It can take some extra effort on the employer's/HR department's part to really get people on board. Here are a few suggestions from SHRM:

Don't spring it on them!

Advanced communication is key for helping employees get into the swing of things for open enrollment. And no, that doesn't mean boring boardroom meetings. Give workers supplements that they can review on their own time that allows them to compare plans and options so they can find the appropriate level of coverage for themselves and their dependents.

Focus on people

Whether your workforce trends toward younger workers with less experience in benefits election or well-established workers who may be more set in their ways, a "one-size-fits-all" communication strategy doesn't work for anyone. Make HR available early and often during the open enrollment process so workers can talk over their benefits options and have an informed opinion when it's time to choose a plan.

Cost savings

What can really get employees excited for open enrollment is finding out how much money they can save over the course of the year. Specifically, calculators for FSA or HSA users are extremely helpful in giving employees a view into how much their contributions will affect their yearly tax savings and estimating how much they'll spend on health care expenses in the coming year. If you know there's a chance you can save hundreds with a different plan, that's a better way to look at open enrollment.

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Fridays (with Benefits) is a weekly roundup of the latest headlines about employee benefits -- from FSAs to fitness programs and everything workplace wellness. It appears every Friday, exclusively on the FSAstore.com Learning Center. And for the latest info about your health and financial wellness, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.