As an editor, I tend to be pretty picky about words (just ask my kids every time they use “like” as a verb instead of “said.” And don’t even get me started on the word “utilize.”) More than once, I’ve wished someone would write a “Say This, Not That!” guide for benefits professionals and providers.
So I was happy to read Kathleen Koster’s story on page 26 about translating employee benefits into plain English. It grew out of a slide show in which we asked readers to comment on their benefits communication pet peeves. As Kathleen points out in this month’s article, many of you are so well-versed in the lingo (and that’s a good thing) that it’s easy to forget that not everyone’s going to immediately understand common benefits and retirement terms.
