For many people their role, salary and company culture are not the only factors to think about when considering a job or career move, the benefits package and additional so called ‘perks’ that come with the job are becoming as important. Candidates more and more are tending to favour the employer that provide great and relevant employee benefits.
The benefits package can therefore set your company apart when it comes to attracting top talent and retaining the best staff. This is supported by recent research commissioned by VideoDoc, the leading online doctor, where it was revealed that 65% of those surveyed said that if offered free online GP cover, it would influence their decision to work with one company over another.
If you want your company to retain and attract that talent, and the aim is to achieve a more engaged, healthier, happier workforce, they need to know about the benefits that are available. Therefore finding the most effective channels within your organisation to communicate this is as important as offering the benefits package in the first place. So how do you achieve this?
Firstly, because people respond differently to various communication styles, it is sensible to gain insight into the people in your own organisation and how they best engage with company information.
Start by creating a written strategy for employee benefits communications including objectives, goals and employee needs by audience group.
Once this is written, you will need to look at established communications channels within your organisation and compare which one meets the different audience groups requirements.
- Several approaches that reinforce each other is most likely to get results.
- Create a special section on the company’s internal website for HR related matters, that perhaps provides information about bank holiday days, entitlements and leave request forms all with the aim to drive traffic to the page. Here you can also promote and highlight different benefits the company offers.
- Include information on the benefit scheme on the internal newsletter or e-zine with a link taking the employee directly to the information or sign-up page.
- Adding incentives to the communication and call to action can be effective and increase the open rates of company update emails and newsletters.
- Think about the content that is important or interesting to the workforce and tailor the topics to this. People are busy, but they have time for something interesting or relevant.
Wrkit clients and their employees have access to a number of superb employee benefits and wellbeing resources. We are always available to support your internal messaging and to ensure all our clients have an engaged and motivated workforce. For more information please email us at info@wrkit.com
Wrkit clients have free access to see a GP online with VideoDoc, this can be found within the Wrkit Lifestyle Savings module.
Author: Nicki Labram, Head of Communications, VideoDoc
