As we round another essential corner in the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is focused on reopening for business and the future of work is front and center. Organizations are engaging in weighty discussions about what happens next, and lessons learned are shaping decision-making at the leadership level and beyond. 

With organizations shifting into another “new normal,” we’re taking a look at which aspects of the hybrid workplace are here to stay. During a time when communication was crucial to connect with remote employees, what winning strategies can we continue to implement for effective and engaging employee communications? 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, wellness, COVID, 2022

 

Open Enrollment: The Essentials 

With summer coming to an end and fall just around the corner, Open Enrollment season is top of mind for many organizations. Open Enrollment, generally occurs between November 1st and December 15th, so we’re approaching the perfect time to put together a checklist to keep things on track. 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, wellness, COVID, 2022

In 2021, Open Enrollment for employee benefits was met with an unprecedented rollout, as the majority of employees worked remotely and their personal and professional needs took a dramatic shift. As we approach Open Enrollment 2022, a new set of parameters will need to be met, with a mix of in-office and remote workers and an evolving set of benefits needs. 

To prepare for another non-traditional Open Enrollment season, it’s helpful to get planning efforts into full swing with some time to spare.

Tags: Employee Communications, workplace program, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, wellness, COVID, 2022

Even as pandemic-implemented protocols and restrictions are starting to lift, many individuals are still facing stress and uncertainty around their long-term health and financial well-being. With this in mind, it’s important for employers to engage their employees in benefits decision-making as early and as often as possible this year as we approach another unique Open Enrollment season. 

Tags: Employee Communications, workplace program, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, wellness, COVID, 2022

Employee wellness is on almost every employer’s mind, especially over the course of the last few months. Between the benefits employee wellness programs bring to employee engagement, retention and recruiting new talent, and their ability to lower health care costs and boost employee performance, it’s easy to see why. 

That being said, simply offering employee wellness programs is not enough. It takes a targeted approach to employee participation to see the true benefits of your organization’s employee wellness initiatives. 

Tags: Employee Communications, workplace program, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, wellness, COVID, 2021

For many it is finally time to return to the office after over a year of uncertainty and remote connection. According to a Worker Preferences survey from JLL, a strong majority of employees are looking for a blend of in-person and remote work, with around three days a week in the office.

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, COVID, 2021

 

It’s been over a year since organizations around the world were met with a completely unprecedented “new normal", yet staying flexible is still at the top of most employers’ minds. As COVID-19 restrictions slowly lessen and the country starts to open back up for business, many workplaces will need to adapt their workplace to accommodate remote and in-office employees. 

In a recent PwC survey of US executives, nearly one-third described their approach to post-pandemic work as "going with the flow." While being agile is an admirable employer quality, it’s still helpful to have plans and procedures in place and communicating with your employees what to expect.

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, COVID, 2021

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), offered by 79% of today’s employers, are more than just a resource for mental health services. They also provide a unique level of benefits-driven support that can help employees achieve a better work-life balance.

In this piece, we’ll take a look at the many benefits of EAPs, some commonly overlooked EAP services, and how to promote EAPs to encourage employee participation and share information that helps them access the right assistance for their needs.

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, 2021, Employee Assistance Program

With the ongoing financial uncertainty that stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, employees' retirement savings needs could fluctuate over the coming months and even years. The challenge for employers lies in their ability to deliver clear and approachable retirement planning communications that stay consistently aligned with their priorities. 

Even in times of economic ease, retirement planning can be an intimidating topic. But when employees are feeling the strains and stresses of financial uncertainty, they can become so overwhelmed with financial decisions, they fail to take action at all.

For retirement planning to really resonate with employees and motivate them to act, the onus is on employers to deliver targeted communications that are appealing and accessible to the audience, easy-to-understand, and personalized to reinforce empathy and ease.

Tags: Employee Communications, retirement plan, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, retiree communication, 2021, financial wellness

Rolling out a well-received financial wellness program requires employee communications that engage employees and call them to action. These programs are best designed with increasing employee knowledge as their main priority—educating employees on every option to assist them in their overall decision-making process.  

Today’s workplaces typically feature a diverse mix of employee demographics and populations, each with their own unique financial goals, future interests and timelines in mind; from the Millennials paying down student loan debt to the older generations focusing on retirement. 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, 2021, financial wellness