Unum research finds right combination of tools and timing build a
successful benefits education plan
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Unum’s (NYSE: UNM) annual study of American workers finds that enough
time and the right tools are still the key ingredients to an effective
benefits education.
“This is the fourth year we’ve conducted this study, and our research
has consistently found that the key to an effective benefits education
campaign is a three-plus-three communication strategy,” said Kelly
McClusky, director of marketing communications at Unum. “Allowing
employees at least three weeks to review information, and providing that
information in at least three formats, adds up to a better benefits
education and enrollment experience.”
A positive assessment of benefits education is strongly related to
overall workplace satisfaction. The research shows that four in five
(82%) employees who rated their benefits education highly also rated
their employer as an excellent/very good place to work.
“When employers give their employees enough time and resources to learn
about benefits, the payoff can be positive for both the employer and the
employee,” McClusky said. “We consistently see that when employees
experience an effective approach to benefits education, they also have
higher levels of engagement, morale and loyalty.”
The study of more than 1,100 employed adults by Harris Interactive was
completed following the 2011 benefits enrollment period.
To better meet the various learning styles among employees, the results
indicate offering education materials in at least three formats is a
critical part of the benefits education process.
According to the study, 90 percent of employees who were asked to review
their benefits within the past year used the information made available
to them. Printed materials, employer emails, personalized statements and
employer intranets were among the most likely to be utilized:
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66 percent of employees used printed materials or brochures to learn
more about their benefits when given the opportunity.
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59 percent of employees who had access to personal statements utilized
them to get information about their benefits.
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58 percent of employees accessed information on their employer’s
Intranet or from email communications from their employers when it was
offered.
Unfortunately, the study also reveals that employee access to benefits
resources has remained significantly lower than 2008 levels.
Equally important as offering employees the right amount of resources is
giving them three weeks or more to review their benefits choices and
information before making a decision.
Those who had three or more weeks to review benefits materials prior to
the close of enrollment were significantly more likely to rate their
benefits and their benefits education as excellent or very good,
compared to those with less than three weeks to enroll.
The research shows that 96 percent of employees who had three-plus weeks
to review their benefits education materials said it was enough time—but
only 48 percent of respondents were given that much time.
An effective benefits education strategy can enhance employees’
appreciation of their benefits, the research shows. Eighty-one percent
of employees with an excellent/very good benefits education rated their
employee benefits package as excellent or very good. Conversely, only 27
percent of employees who rated their benefits education as fair/poor
said their employee benefits package was excellent or very good.
About Unum
Unum (www.unum.com)
is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and
services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Through its
subsidiaries, Unum Group paid approximately $6 billion in total benefits
to customers in 2011.
Harris Interactive Survey Methodology
The 2011 survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of
Unum from December 16-20, 2011 among a total of 3,339 adults 18 and
older, 1,820 of whom are employed full- or part-time and 1,147 of whom
were asked to review their employee benefits in the past year. The 2008
survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Unum from
December 9-11, 2008 among a total of 2,137 adults 18 and older, 1,122 of
whom are employed full- or part-time and 659 of whom were asked to
review their employee benefits in the past year. This online survey is
not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of
theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey
methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Brian Baker
at (423) 294-7839.
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading market research firms,
leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform
relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the
Harris Poll® and for pioneering innovative research
methodologies, Harris offers proprietary solutions in the areas of
market and customer insight, corporate brand and reputation strategy,
and marketing, advertising, public relations and communications
research. www.harrisinteractive.com.
Unum
Brian Baker 423-294-7839
bbaker4@unum.com
Source: Unum