How to have a great open enrollment period at your business

September 28, 2020 at 4:00 AM
open enrollment period for small businesses

With so many changes happening due to the pandemic, it can be hard to keep track of your business’s upcoming events.

For example, open enrollment begins soon.

But Ashton Benefits wants to make sure your employees have a successful enrollment period.

Here’s what you need to know.

Open enrollment is when your employees can elect to change their healthcare coverage. It starts on November 1st and lasts until December 15th. But with employees working remotely, helping children with additional school work, and other responsibilities, it can be easy to overlook this crucial time.

We here at Ashton Benefits of Bergen County have years of experience working as employee benefits brokers. And with a nationwide client base, we’ve worked with a variety of businesses. So we have a few tried and true suggestions that we believe any business would benefit from utilizing during open enrollment.

Announce when the open enrollment period starts and ends.

Many employees get so caught up in the day to day that they don’t remember when open enrollment begins. So it’s a good idea to announce this a few times at the start of the enrollment period, and again towards the end. That way, your employees are aware of when they need to sign up and how much time they have left to make changes to their plans.

Acknowledge any changes in your plans.

Companies will sometimes change their healthcare options, make adjustments to dental, add on new programs, etc. So you’ll want to make sure your employees are aware of any changes made and what’s available. Ashton Benefits provides several HR services, and can help provide clear communication to your team about their options. We pride ourselves on creating a seamless open enrollment period for many companies. So remember to contact us if you’d like to work with us for your upcoming open enrollment.

Reward engagement from employees.

If you want all of your employees to be involved in open enrollment, make it interactive and fun. Whether it be a raffle, a rewards system, or something else, people are more likely to participate if they feel engaged in a positive way. Rewards and prizes will boost the number of active participants and help everyone feel connected.

Recruit outside help.

We know that small and midsize businesses already have a lot on their plate during this challenging time. Partnering with a third party for human resource support is a great way to manage open enrollment and other HR-related duties. Ashton Benefits provides a wide range of services, and will ensure your employees have all the information they need about their available benefits.

At the end of the day, we know that every business wants their employees to feel valued and cared for. So having a successful open enrollment is a wonderful way to show your employees that you have their best interest at heart.

And when you partner with an employee benefits broker like Ashton Benefits, we take time and care to find the right benefits for your team.

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more or have any questions about our services.

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