HR Insights

If you don’t have a recognition program in place, the new year is a perfect time to start one. While some management staff, or even HR professionals, dismiss recognition and reward programs as merely "feel good" activities, evidence suggests a strong link exists between such programs and improved job performance. A salary alone does not show appreciation. In terms of showing appreciation, a salary covers physical needs, but giving praise through a rewards program goes further to provide for the psychological needs of your employees. According to a Globoforce study, “The number one reason most Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated.” Employees who feel appreciated will have better morale, and therefore, better results at work.

 The rise of technology and the digitization of many aspects of business have led to some dramatic changes in the workplace as we know it. As technology continues to progress, the workplace is an ever-changing environment. The future of the workplace is about the future of people. As we change – as we become increasingly dependent on mobile devices and as we work faster and become less tolerant of inefficient processes and technologies – we expect changes in the workplace. Start now to build the workplace of the future—one that is efficient, offers a flexible schedule, and is employee-centric.

Most companies have an annual enrollment period. This is an important window of time during which employees can make adjustments to their benefits package for the upcoming year. Important as this period is, and valuable as it can be, many times employees have trouble staying engaged in the annual benefits presentations. This is useful information that you don’t want them to miss. How can you make these presentations more engaging and fun for your employees?

Open enrollment can be a stressful time for HR professionals, but it doesn’t have to be. A little preparation goes a long way. Putting in the time to create clear, engaging communication can work wonder for your employees. Consider the findings from “What Your Employees Think About Your Benefits Communication: Research from Jellyvision Conducted by Harris Poll”, a 2016 survey with some surprising facts:

It’s no secret that email is the default mode of communication in most companies. When it comes to informing your employees about open enrollment, emailing them is fast, convenient, and ideally, efficient. But how can you make sure your emails are going to actually be read? Just as emails are fast, convenient, and efficient for you to send out, they need to be the same for your employees to read. Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of emailing your employees during open enrollment.

The benefit packages that companies offer employees are not one-size-fits-all. Now that the majority of the workforce is comprised of millennials, it’s time to look at what benefits millennials value most and how they may differ from their professional colleagues’. Studies show that millennials understand less about their benefits and, therefore, are less engaged in what their benefits actually cover. It's critical to provide millennial employees with accessible, understandable options and allow them to personalize their benefits.

Companies want to see efficiency and top results from every department and every employee, which means employee engagement is more important than ever. What is employee engagement? Here’s the simple definition: People want to come to work, understand their jobs, and know how their work contributes to the success of the organization. But how do you know if your employees are engaged? And is it really that important? Yes, it is! Let’s take a look at five of the most awesome benefits that come along with having engaged employees at your company.

Top companies know that a competitive benefits package is foundational to a strong talent management strategy.

With the exception of government and faith-based organizational plans, most employers that offer employee welfare benefit plans are required to provide a Summary Plan Description (or SPD) to plan participants and beneficiaries, yet many organizations either don’t provide one or have one that contains outdated information.