Today’s #WednesdayWisdom concludes our series of insightful tips on #OpenEnrollment for #HR professionals from Human Capital Solutions Managing Director Sara Choate, SPHR, SHRM-SCP.

Tip number five: continue you communicate.

• Provide clear instructions regarding:       
  • How enrollment forms are to be completed. Avoid pen and paper forms if you can. If your human resources information system allows for online completion, or your broker has a system you can use, do it!
  • Deadlines. Pro-tip: make the employee deadline for enrollment a few days earlier than really necessary to provide some cushion for the inevitable stragglers.
    
    
• Provide a take-home packet and an online option. Your broker should be able to assist with information regarding plan options and make those available in paper and/or electronic form. Consider mailing a reminder/information to the home address of each employee, as the primary benefit decision maker could be the other adult in the home.  
  
  
• Utilize Microsoft Teams or another instant messaging platform? Create a channel dedicated to all things open-enrollment.
  • Email a recap of the meeting for those who couldn’t participate and point to the Teams channel.
    
    
• Keep communicating reminders and information a couple times a week as the deadline approaches. Be open to fielding questions or offer your brokerage team as a resource. Benefit decisions can sometimes be personal and private. Some employees may be more comfortable with an outside party like your broker answering their questions.
  
  

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