Benefits Professionals Struggle with Complexity of Plan Design and Employee Communication

Strategic Insights -

Benefits professionals face significant challenges in designing and communicating complex benefits plans to employees, with 40% citing complexity as their greatest challenge. A recent survey conducted by CGI Consulting Group, Inc. in connection with the 1995 Benefits Expo found that setting up managed care, retirement plans, and flexible benefits programs in a dynamic enrollment is often frustrating and confusing. Employee Communications is the second biggest problem facing the profession, with many professionals struggling to ensure that employees understand the benefits they have been offered.

Key Takeaways:

  • 40% of benefits professionals cited complexity of benefits plan design as their greatest challenge, according to a survey by CGI Consulting Group, Inc.
  • Employee Communications is the second biggest problem facing the profession, with many benefits managers struggling to ensure that employees understand the benefits they have been offered.
  • Benefits professionals are finding it difficult to navigate the latest trends in benefits design, including managed care, retirement plans, and flexible benefits programs.
  • Employee understanding of benefits is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent, with a human resources manager from Ohio noting that "our benefits package is complex, and I worry about employees understanding all the choices they have."
  • Benefits communications should aim to educate employees about their benefits and make employees feel valued by their employer, according to Alex Johns, Chairman of CGI Consulting Group, Inc.
  • CGI Consulting Group, Inc. designs, implements, and administers flexible employee benefits, and their survey aimed to provide insights into the challenges facing benefits professionals.

Statistics:

  • 40% of benefits professionals face complexity of benefits plan design as their greatest challenge (CGI Consulting Group, Inc. survey)
  • The survey included over 300 benefits professionals attending the 1995 Benefits Expo
  • Employee Communications is the second biggest problem facing the benefits profession (CGI Consulting Group, Inc. survey)
  • 51% of the benefits professionals surveyed were contacting employees with communications on enrollment (CGI Consulting Group, Inc. survey)
  • 21% of the benefits professionals surveyed had implemented some form of employee communication program to facilitate benefits enrollment (CGI Consulting Group, Inc. survey)

Sources:

  • CGI Consulting Group, Inc.
  • "Benefits Professionals Struggle with Complexity of Plan Design and Employee Communication" (CGI Consulting Group, Inc. press release, Dec. 6, 1995)
  • The 1995 Benefits Expo
  • Alex Johns, Chairman of CGI Consulting Group, Inc.