Employee Benefits - What to Know

Hey Besties!

Happy Wednesday - as a starter, we know it’s not a “normal” Wednesday for many here in the U.S. with Election Day just behind us – so if your team’s feeling a mix of emotions, you’re not alone. For those looking to support their teams right now, we’ve posted a few quick tips on our social channels (IG, TikTok, and LinkedIn @hrmanifesto, @humorous_resources and @managermethod).

In This Episode:

• Unusual Benefit Spotlight: This week, we’re taking a trip (mentally) to Australia, where Ashley learned of an unusual benefit from an acquaintance.

• Corporate Cringe Speak: You’ve probably heard this phrase - especially if you’re putting in extra hours or working on a presentation you won’t get credit for.

• Hot Topic: Open Enrollment – What You Need to Know
  With open enrollment season in full swing, we’re here to help managers navigate questions and best practices - and to explain to those outside the U.S. just how wacky our system is (we’ll give you things to know and best practices).

• Questions & Comments: As always, we end with Qs & Cs - including a plea from Jamie on behalf of all in U.S. HR.

Discussion Guide:

• Talking About the Election: How can we navigate conversations around election days or other major events where opinions can vary widely? What’s worked well to create a respectful and supportive environment for open (or private) conversations?

• Global Customs and Workplace Culture: What approaches have you seen that help teams learn about customs and norms in different locations, especially if you're working globally? What do people need to know that they might not?

• Open Enrollment Essentials for HR Teams: Things for HR teams to talk about (and for those not in U.S. HR, to realize what you get to miss out on 🙂 ):

  • Common Questions: What are the most frequent questions we receive during open enrollment? How could we make these answers more accessible to save time?

  • Using Brokers for Clear Communication: How can we work with brokers to create guides or summaries that put benefits into clear, real-world language?

  • Family Planning: What should we know to help employees understand benefits related to starting or growing a family, both before and after significant life events?

  • Defining Life Events: Are we prepared to explain what counts as a qualifying life event and when adjustments to benefits can be made?

  • Handling Questions on the Spot: How can we feel confident responding to benefits questions when we don’t have all the answers immediately?

  • System Sync and Employee Changes: Do our systems automatically update employee changes (e.g., deductions or 401k contributions), and how can we ensure they do?

  • Unique Benefits: What’s the most unexpected or unique benefit you’ve seen or hear about being offered by an employer? How can we consider those as an organization?

  • Promoting Self-Service Resources: If we have self-service tools or guides, how can we ensure employees know they’re available? What role can managers play in positively reinforcing this, so people know they’re there (not just “HR told me to tell you…”)?

Wishing you all a calm week – and, as always, thank you for tuning in and sharing your thoughts with us!

Your HR Besties

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