Plan ahead with Mercer’s open enrollment checklist

Employees clearly appreciate their employer-sponsored benefits. According to the 2011 Mercer Workplace Survey, 79% say their benefits are one of the primary reasons they work where they do, and 91% say that getting health benefits through work is just as important as getting a salary. Open enrollment is also a great opportunity to promote the tools and educational materials that help employees make better enrollment decisions. [Image: Shutterstock]

Even before the recent Supreme Court ruling on the federal health care reform law, more than one-third (36%) of employees expected employers to change health plan benefits due to health care reform, more than double the level reported one year earlier. Employers should work with consultants, administrators and other stakeholders now in order to finalize all the requirements to be in compliance and allow enough time to implement and communicate plan changes. [Image: Shutterstock]