Benefits Communic-
ation
Effective benefits communication helps to retain a talented workforce.
  • More than 2-in-5 (44%) workers agree that a well-communicated benefits program would make them less likely to leave their job.
  • 37% of employees who say their HR departments communicate not at all/not very well are extremely/very likely to leave their jobs in the next year.
  • While 84% of employers believe tailoring benefits communication to employees at different levels or life stages is important, only 26% do so.
Frequent benefits communication makes a positive impact on employees.
  • Workers who say their HR department communicates too little are nearly twice as likely (63% vs. 34%) to leave their jobs in the next year.
  • Nearly half (45%) of employees say their HR department communicates too little about employee benefits.

Frequency of Benefits Communication and Likelihood to Leave:

   Extremely/Very Likely to Leave Their Job in Next 12 Months
 Communicates about benefits only at open enrollment or new hire enrollment  65%
 Communicates 2 times throughout the year  18%
 Communicates 3–5 times throughout the year  12%
 Communicates 6–9 times throughout the year  3%
 Communicates 10+ times throughout the year  1%

Health care reform could affect the amount and type of benefits communication employees seek.
  • Nearly 2-in-5 employees (38%) say they believe their employer will educate them about changes to health care coverage as a result of health care reform.
  • In contrast, only 12% of employers say educating employees about benefits is one of the top HR issues for their company right now.
  • Well over half of employees (60%) say they have done nothing to prepare themselves or their family for possible changes due to health care reform.
  • Just over half of employees (51%) say health care reform is too complicated to understand.
Brokers and benefits consultants can offer invaluable assistance with benefits information.
  • 64% of employers use a broker or benefits consultant to determine their benefits options.
  • 50% of employees strongly/somewhat agree they would be more informed about health insurance choices if they sat with an insurance consultant during open enrollment.
  • 43% of survey participants say they would prefer to get information and/or advice on employee benefits from an HR or benefits professional at their company.
  • 21% of employees say they get information and/or advice on employee benefits from colleagues, yet only 6% prefer to do so.

The 2012 Aflac WorkForces Report was conducted January 24–February 23, 2012, by Research Now on behalf of Aflac.

Share