House & Home
Mon, November 28, 2011
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--As millions of Americans finalize their annual benefits selections this week, employers should take note: thereas an opportunity to boost employee retention, productivity a" and ultimately the bottom line a" with simple, personalized and interactive ways to deliver employee information.
"Research demonstrates that engaged employees are more productive, more customer-focused, more profitable, safer, and less likely to leave. That translates into millions of dollars for companies that communicate in a way that keeps employees engaged"
HR experts at [ Xerox Corporation ] (NYSE: XRX) say engaging employees throughout the year, but particularly during the open enrollment season, is essential for keeping employees happy and productive. Employees who donat feel their employer understands their needs can be costly a" according to Gallup, the cost of disengaged workers is estimated to be more than $300 billion annually in lost productivity for U.S. businesses.
For companies looking to improve the way they interact with employees for next yearas open enrollment period, Xerox offers the following tips:
1. | Know the audience: Each interaction with an employee a" by phone, email or face-to-face a" is an opportunity to learn more about life stages, attitudes, needs and preferences. This information should be collected, tracked and used to motivate employees with more relevant communications. | ||||
2. | Get personal: While most open enrollment information appeals generically to a mass audience; employees are more likely to act if the company personalizes documents, e-mails, etc. with variables such as the employeeas name and life events like marriage or the birth of a child. | ||||
3. | Be creative: Employees are more responsive to informal communications from their employer. Experiment with virtual benefits fairs and training courses to allow employees to connect with benefits representatives and learn about options when itas convenient for them. | ||||
4. | Mind the channel: Not all employees prefer the same communications channels (direct mail, e-mail, online, mobile), so deliver information through their desired channel, in terms they understand, at a time when they are most likely to take action. | ||||
5. | Educate: Wellness programs are key to reducing health care costs for both employers and employees, while improving productivity and reducing absenteeism. These programs improve a companyas bottom line and should be clearly communicated to employees, who may not be aware such resources exist. | ||||
6. | Keep it simple and relevant: Too many choices and information overload actually impair an individualas decision-making ability. Simplify the benefitsa decision-making process by providing relevant examples and incorporating individualized data to explain their options. | ||||
7. | Stay ready for reform: Outsourcing helps employers comply with new healthcare regulations and reforms, navigate complexities, simplify delivery to employees, and identify potential savings. |
aResearch demonstrates that engaged employees are more productive, more customer-focused, more profitable, safer, and less likely to leave. That translates into millions of dollars for companies that communicate in a way that keeps employees engaged,a said Scot Marcotte, managing director of talent and HR solutions, Buck Consultants, A Xerox Company.
Buck Consultants helps companies engage employees and boost open enrollment, 401(k) and wellness program participation a" with tools like a secure online portal for a aone-stop benefits shopping experiencea using targeted messaging and a personal action list to make it easy for employees to get the most out of benefits and cost-saving opportunities.
Through Buck Consultants and [ ACS ], also a Xerox company, Xerox partners with HR departments to transform their [ benefit services ] into more efficient operations, managing benefits for nearly 10 million employees and retirees around the world. From strategic HR assessments to plan design and implementation and employee communication, Xerox is delivering strategies to better engage employees and simplify benefits selection across 80 countries in 20 different languages.
About Xerox
Xerox Corporation is a $22.5 billion leading global enterprise for business process and [ document management ]. Through its broad portfolio of technology and [ services ], Xerox provides the essential back-office support that clears the way for clients to focus on what they do best: their [ real business ]. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Xerox provides leading-edge [ document technology ], services, [ software ] and [ genuine Xerox supplies ] for [ graphic communication ] and [ office printing environments ] of any size. Through ACS, A Xerox Company, which Xerox acquired in February 2010, Xerox also offers extensive [ business process outsourcing ] and [ IT outsourcing services ], including data processing, [ healthcare solutions ], HR benefits management, finance support, and customer relationship management services for commercial and government organizations worldwide. The 134,000 people of Xerox serve clients in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit [ http://www.xerox.com ], [ http://news.xerox.com ], [ http://www.realbusiness.com ] or [ http://www.acs-inc.com ]. For investor information, visit [ http://www.xerox.com/investor ].
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