Here’s the reality you’re working with as an HR and/or Benefits Team: You’re bootstrapped in ways like never before. In light of 2020, 2021 and 2022 — you’re being tasked to do more with less and you’re feeling it. And in your quest to provide high touch support to your employees — you’re on the hunt for benefits technology that can optimize your time and minimize your spend.
But — in the crowded landscape of employee websites, employee communication apps, benefit administration systems and more — you’re not sure what the right move is.
This blog highlights three popular benefits technology (“BenTech”) solutions and outlines why they may be the right choice for your organization.
Employee Call Centers — Benefits Technology or not?
A recent AFLAC study found that 53% of employees found understanding benefits stressful — and another 43% of them found enrolling in benefits stressful. And sometimes, this “stress” needs a real-life human touchpoint to be remedied.
Sure — an Employee Call Center isn’t what most would consider “BenTech” — but when we consider the technology the call center leverages and how they humanize it, we can’t ignore it.
Why We Recommend Them:
- Some provide concierge-level support to employees with benefit questions.
- They offer educated, decision-support to employees during enrollment.
- They act as an extension of your HR/benefits team to support your employees one-to-one.
Who They’re a Good Fit For:
- Employers who are struggling to keep up with employee support requests.
- Employers looking to provide one-to-one support during benefit enrollment.
- Employers working to improve their employee engagement.
Our Solution:
At Totem, our technology supports our people services. Unlike other call centers, our very own Totem employees are picking up the phone to assist and educate your employees through our Benefit Service Center. We provide year-round employee support and custom communications with targeted outreach for benefits and HR messaging. Our concierge support includes inbound and outbound phone/email/text message in addition to virtual and onsite meeting support.Benefits Technology and Employee Benefits Websites
With remote work on the rise – employee disengagement is too. A recent Gallup poll found that 85% of American employees are not engaged at work. To take it a step further, a study on employee engagement found that U.S. businesses lose between $450-$550 billion annually due to disengaged workers.
As if you needed this reminder: A lack of employee engagement is literally decreasing your bottom line.
Because we also know that 85% of employees are most motivated when internal communications are effective — we see many employers are turning to employee benefits websites to help bridge the gap between their employees and the surplus of benefits information available to them.
Why We Recommend Them:
- They serve as a central hub for all benefits information and high-level HR messaging.
- They’re accessible 24/7 and from anywhere (e.g., not exclusively on your company network).
- Most are mobile-ready and provide a seamless in-hand experience.
Who They’re a Good Fit For:
- Dispersed and/or remote workforces who cannot easily leverage paper communications.
- Employers with an overwhelmed HR/benefits team who are craving a single place to house all information.
- Employers looking to make the shift away from paper communication (or add digital into their paper strategy).
Our Solution:
At Totem, our sleek, mobile-ready employee benefit websites are a true value-add and are offered to our clients at no additional fee. Your customized Benefits Website contains links to the enrollment portal, single sign-on availability, and a useful help desk feature. (The best part? We manage it all — soup-to-nuts. The build, the maintenance, everything.)
Benefits Technology and Employee Benefits Websites
With remote work on the rise – employee disengagement is too. A recent Gallup poll found that 85% of American employees are not engaged at work. To take it a step further, a study on employee engagement found that U.S. businesses lose between $450-$550 billion annually due to disengaged workers.
As if you needed this reminder: A lack of employee engagement is literally decreasing your bottom line.
Because we also know that 85% of employees are most motivated when internal communications are effective — we see many employers are turning to employee benefits websites to help bridge the gap between their employees and the surplus of benefits information available to them.
Why We Recommend Them:
- They serve as a central hub for all benefits information and high-level HR messaging.
- They’re accessible 24/7 and from anywhere (e.g., not exclusively on your company network).
- Most are mobile-ready and provide a seamless in-hand experience.
Who They’re a Good Fit For:
- Dispersed and/or remote workforces who cannot easily leverage paper communications.
- Employers with an overwhelmed HR/benefits team who are craving a single place to house all information.
- Employers looking to make the shift away from paper communication (or add digital into their paper strategy).
Our Solution:
At Totem, our sleek, mobile-ready employee benefit websites are a true value-add and are offered to our clients at no additional fee. Your customized Benefits Website contains links to the enrollment portal, single sign-on availability, and a useful help desk feature. (The best part? We manage it all — soup-to-nuts. The build, the maintenance, everything.)
Benefit Administration Systems and BenTech Solutions
BenAdmin systems are a critical part of lessening the load and providing the highest level of support your employees deserve. But the truth is — your BenAdmin solution is only good if it works.
And when it comes to the selection, implementation and maintenance of the technology — when it all falls on you, it hurts more than it helps.
At Totem, we believe strongly in the benefits associated with a user-friendly, high-functioning BenAdmin system — and recommend the use of them to all of our clients.
Why We Recommend Them:
- They save you time and resources during enrollment — leveraging technology and secure API feeds in place of paper enrollment forms.
- Most integrate with your carrier systems for Qualifying Life Event changes.
- Some provide decision-support tools that aid your employees during the enrollment process.
Who They’re a Good Fit For:
- Employers with an overwhelmed HR/benefits team who no longer have the bandwidth to manually manage benefit enrollment.
- Employers looking for reporting on their employee’s level of engagement with their New Hire onboarding process and/or Annual Enrollment.
- Employers looking for ways to automate their ACA and COBRA administration.
Our Solution:
Our custom BenAdmin solution is offered to all clients at no additional cost. We oversee the build and maintenance of the system and design a fresh and updated user experience. In laymen’s terms, we manage all aspects of the system. Through this system, employees can complete enrollments and review benefits, confirmation statements and beneficiary data.
At Totem, we don’t do cookie-cutter when it comes to anything. We’re committed to help businesses transform their benefits approach with the following:
- Benefits Consulting
- Benefits Administration
- Benefits Communication
- Benefits and HR Compliance
- Concierge Employee Support
- HR Outsourcing
To begin exploring BenTech solutions that may be right for you and your employees, click here to book a free consultation call today.
