New recommendations outline ways employers can improve design, communication and delivery of employee benefits and wellness incentives.
Based on the findings of a five-year research project focused on understanding the employer and employee perspectives on health care and health benefits, the white paper by The Midwest Business Group on Health details what employers were doing that worked and didn't work.
“Employers have invested substantial resources to improve the health of their workforce,” says Larry Boress, MBGH president and CEO. “Unfortunately, in spite of these investments, many employers experience low program participation and disappointing levels of employee understanding and engagement. We’re working with employers to combat these problems and explore alternative approaches to benefit design and health improvement programs with the intent to motivate employees to be more responsible for their health.”
The research provides employers with key recommendations to supporting employee engagement and health improvement efforts including:
· Take into account a company’s culture when implementing workplace health and benefit programs. Have strategies in place that build trust – a big influence on employee participation.
· Include dependents and other family members in company communication efforts so they can support health improvement and behavior change efforts at home and in their daily lives.
· Offer “benefits-at-a-glance” resources that include information such as cost comparisons among plans, the actual cost of health services, and benefit/coverage changes that could have an impact on out-of-pocket costs.
·Use the results of clinical screening programs and campaigns such as "Know Your Numbers" as the trigger to get employees to consider making necessary lifestyle changes.
· Structure incentives as part of the benefit design to maximize the employer’s investment in these resources and to promote value to the employee.
· Provide information and resources on resiliency/stress management to help employees handle the extremes of a hectic work and home life.
Going forward, MBGH will launch an Employer Communications Toolkit on Benefits Literacy and Consumer Engagement, which will be used to build a best practices communications road map and toolkit for employers that includes templates, resources and employer best practices to help companies increase participation and engagement in their health management programs.
