We had a bit of a reprieve for a while there and we collectively took a deep breath. But, somewhere between the dreaded virus (*cough*Covid) crisis, record breaking inflationand an overseas war, the familiar phrase “recession” has reared its ugly head again. 

According to arecent quarterly survey from McKinsey, the second half of 2022 is suffering from a somber economic outlook. In fact,72%of U.S. employees are currently stressed about their finances and nearly 9 in 10 revealed they’re reassessing their financial situation. 

Stress not only impacts your employees’ mental health but also their level of productivity. Employees dealing with financial stress lose, on average, 11.4 hoursin productivity every week – which translates to approximately $4 billionin lost productivity weekly for U.S. employers. 

It’s imperative for businesses to focus on strategic planning and risk management so they can be ready to adapt to any unexpected changes. Your employee communications should supplement and support those efforts. 

Times of financial uncertainty can be difficult to navigate when you have all the information, but when everything is up in the air, it’s obviously even harder. Don’t leave your employees to struggle alone. Here’s how you can help:

Tags: Employee Communications, 401(k), HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, benefit package, financial wellness, economy, inflation, cost of living

As an increasing number of organizations move toward complete pay transparency, the importance of informing employees about exactly how they’re compensated is a key part of the process. Total compensation statements are a way to paint the bigger picture by showing your employees the breakdown of their benefits and rewards beyond just base salary. 

Total compensation, when communicated effectively, can help boost employee engagement, retention and talent attraction while educating employees on how they’re truly being compensated. It’s vital to include the right information, adhere to certain best practices and arm your managers with the tools they need to engage in discussions with employees. 

 

Keep reading to learn how to communicate total compensation to your employees, so you can optimize the outcomes.

Tags: Employee Communications, 401(k), HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, benefit package, compensation statement, financial wellness, eap

When it comes to supporting employees’ mental health in the workplace, the only thing more crucial than communication is action. And, for many employers, a concerted commitment to mental well-being is tied directly to the overall health of the business. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that employee depression accounts for 200 million lost workdays each year and costs employers up to $44 billion. And, outside of the day-to-day cost of distress in the workplace, the toll depression can take on an organization’s culture paves the path for unhappy employees, decreased retention and increased turnover across the board. 

On the flip side, employers who invest in their employees’ mental health see four times the financial return for their business. 

 

In short: It’s always a good time to prioritize mental health in the workplace, and below we’ll walk you through “how.” 

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

The Corporate Equality Index (CEI) is a national rating system on corporate policies, practices and benefits as they pertain to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees in the workplace. The CEI is organized and implemented through the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and this year marks its 20th anniversary. 

The CEI is a highly respected tool for weighing organizations on their ability to uphold a diverse and accommodating workplace, and the Annual Corporate Equality Index Report uses it to determine the most inclusive places to work in the U.S. 

Any company who’s committed to prioritizing DEI is likely to strive toward a spot on the CEI list. Keep reading to learn exactly what the Corporate Equality Index is, why it’s vital to maintaining an inclusive company culture and a few key CEI criteria updates in 2023. 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, culture, 2022, inclusivity, diversity

Richelle Waron

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, culture, 2022, account management, project management

Now more than ever, employees are communicating with their smartphones and mobile devices. And, with many of them spending as much time (if not more) on their mobiles as their computers, it presents employers with an opportunity to communicate with them right where they are. 

Many companies are integrating their intranets with mobile platforms and adopting more advanced tools to engage and communicate with their employees. 

In this blog, we’ll talk about why mobile matters in the digital workplace and how to effectively leverage mobile communications to better engage your employees. 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, total rewards, culture, 2022, recruiting, mobile

An Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is the promise an employer makes to their employees in return for their commitment to the organization and the skills and contributions they bring to the table. 

This promise consists of all the key components — such as benefits, perks and rewards — that each employee will receive from their employer in return for their dedicated service. 

An EVP is a special arrangement between the employer and their employees and it sits at the core of every organization’s employer branding strategy. It clearly defines what a company stands for, and why it’s a unique and desirable place to work.

Tags: Employee Communications, retirement plan, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, total rewards, culture, 2022, employee value proposition

Many of today’s employees are failing to take full advantage of their retirement benefits and running the risk of being unable to retire comfortably. 

In fact, in a national survey of employees with workplace retirement plans, 71% listed “living comfortably in retirement” as a top life goal. Unfortunately, less than half of them have confidence that their retirement savings will be enough, and a further 55% don’t feel secure in their retirement planning at all.

So, how can organizations engage employees and encourage them to maximize their retirement plans? It all starts with well-executed employee communications. 

In this blog, we’ll break down how to communicate retirement benefits to employees, so they feel secure and empowered while planning their financial future. 

Tags: Employee Communications, retirement plan, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, total rewards, culture, 2022

Financial wellness programs are fast becoming one of the most popular benefits offered by today’s employers. And with good reason…

According to a 2022 survey from SoFi:

• 75% of employees are stressed about their finances.
• 51% of employees are more stressed about their finances today than they were during the height of the pandemic.
• Employees spend around 25% of their work week dealing with financial issues.

It’s clear to see – there’s never been a better time to prioritize communications that make financial wellness an achievable reality for your employees. The programs you promote today can help reduce their stress, improve their money management habits and even increase their productivity and job satisfaction. 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, total rewards, culture, 2022, recruiting

Many companies have come to realize that creating an inclusive and inviting organizational culture isn’t just the responsible thing to do — it also has a direct impact on the business bottom line. 

Tags: Employee Communications, HR Communications, Employee Engagement, Open Enrollment, Human Resources, internal communications, communication strategy, Employee Marketing, total rewards, culture, 2022, recruiting