What Are You Going to Offer Your Employees Outside of Regular Insurance?

As the beginning of a new year approaches, many organizations start thinking about renewing their employee benefits. While reviewing health insurance, dental coverage, and other traditional benefits is important, it is also a good time to ask the bigger question: What do employees actually need from their benefits package?

A competitive benefits package does not have to mean adding expensive perks or offering every benefit available. Sometimes, the most valuable additions are services that make employees’ lives a little easier, provide support when they need it, or show them that their organization is paying attention.

Start by Asking Your Employees What Matters

Before adding new benefits, consider asking your employees what they actually value.

A short employee poll or survey can provide useful insight into what your team would use and appreciate. Employees may be looking for lower-cost services, additional flexibility, mental health resources, professional coaching, or support with everyday responsibilities.

Instead of assuming what employees want, ask them. Their answers can help you prioritize benefits that provide meaningful value without adding unnecessary costs to your organization.

Think Beyond Traditional Insurance

There are plenty of ways to strengthen a benefits package without adding another insurance plan.

Organizations may consider offering access to concierge services that help employees with everyday tasks or connecting employees with therapists, coaches, or other support professionals. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can also provide employees with resources when they are dealing with personal, professional, or family challenges.

These types of resources can give employees another place to turn when they need help, while also reinforcing a workplace culture that recognizes employees as people, not just employees.

Consider Benefits That Give Back to the Community

Volunteer time can give employees an opportunity to support causes that are important to them while also creating a stronger connection between employees and their communities. Depending on the organization, this could include individual volunteer hours, organized team volunteer opportunities, or a combination of both.

Benefits do not always have to be about what employees receive. Sometimes, creating opportunities for employees to give back can be just as meaningful.

Use Culture Assessments to Guide Your Decisions

Benefits are only one piece of the employee experience.

A culture assessment can help organizations better understand how employees are feeling about their workplace, leadership, communication, recognition, workload, and overall experience. These insights can help identify areas where the organization may need to make changes before simply adding another benefit to the package.

If your employees are telling you they need more support, this is a good opportunity to listen and consider what you can offer.

Be Prepared Before the New Year

Benefits renewal should not be treated as a once-a-year checkbox.

The beginning of the year is a natural opportunity to look at what worked, what employees used, what they did not use, and what may need to change. Gathering employee feedback and reviewing your workplace culture before renewal decisions are finalized can help ensure your benefits package reflects the needs of your workforce.

The goal is not to offer the biggest benefits package. It is to offer a benefits package that provides meaningful value to the people you employ.

At Reader HR, we help organizations evaluate their HR practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and build strategies that support both employees and the organization. If you are preparing for a benefits renewal and are not sure where to start, let’s talk about what your employees need, what is currently working, and what you can improve for the year ahead.

Email me at [email protected] to schedule a conversation about your current benefits package and what you may want to prioritize next.