The Situation: How COVID is Changing the Way We Work

The unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19 heightened the need for clear and compassionate employee communications. As workers quickly transitioned from a "typical" workday to some juggling remote work and wondering what returning to work would be like in the "new normal", many have turned to their employers for clarity about what comes next.

When COVID-19 began its rapid spread, it brought with it a wave of uncertainty and unexpected changes for employees. Our client, a leading global specialty chemical manufacturing and performance materials company, recognized the toll the pandemic could take on its employees' well-being right away. During this time, they observed a noticeable decline in Employee Assistance Program (EAP) activities in Q1 (down 33% from Q1 2019) and participation in their Well-Being program was pacing behind 2019 metrics.

If you are an HR professional or a benefits specialist, capturing employees' attention can be a challenge even in optimal Open Enrollment scenarios. This season, the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19 are adding an extra layer of complexity and the need for technological tools and communications that can reach an expanding remote workforce.

As employees grapple with a shifting sense of “normal,” many are working from home with additional responsibilities— from homeschooling their children to helping high-risk family members stay safe in isolation. Not to mention the stresses that can stem from job security and an uncertain global future.

The Pressing Need for Virtual Enrollment

From healthcare coverage to contribution elections, Employee Assistance Programs and other ancillary benefits, getting employees to make timely benefits decisions will be more crucial than ever in a COVID-19 world. But how will you provide benefits information to employees who might be working remotely or facing imminent changes to their employment status?

This season, think about offering a virtual Open Enrollment, so you can capture and keep employees' attention, regardless of where they are. If you have an existing benefits website or intranet, you’re already a step in the right direction!

For some, “digital transformation” is a buzzword that’s synonymous with “disruption.” It’s the onslaught of perplexing technological processes designed to disturb their workflow and alter their contribution to the organization.

For others, digital transformation is an opportunity. It harnesses the power of technology to achieve greater efficiencies in operations, enhanced experiences for employees and customers, and the ability to access to more innovative markets and constituents.

For your employees, digital transformation is likely some combination of these two sentiments. And the conflicting mindsets can make it difficult to carry out a strategic vision and craft the kind of messaging that resonates across the organization.

How Ocean Spray embraced its evolution to online communications.

These days, everybody wants to go “green,” so when it comes to employee communications, companies—ever mindful of wasting paper (and the perception that invites)—think that digital is the thing to do; it’s environmentally friendly, and it can often be (or at least seem) less expensive.