Employee Engagement Strategies: Empowering Teams to Use Their Benefits
Employee Engagement Strategies: Empowering Teams to Use Their Benefits
Employee engagement is an essential part of a strong benefits strategy. When employees understand and feel ownership over their benefits, the payoff is significant. According to the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, 76% of employees who understand their benefits are happy and 50% say benefits make them more loyal to their employers.
An engaging open enrollment meeting is a good start (see our tips in How to Raise the Bar on Open Enrollment Meetings). But engagement doesn’t stop once the enrollment session ends. Too often, employers take a “set it and forget it” approach — rolling out benefits once a year and then leaving employees on their own.
The reality is that benefits only make an impact when employees use them. And that requires ongoing communication, education and reminders to keep benefits top of mind. Here are three strategies HR leaders can use to give employees a greater sense of ownership over their benefits:
Keep the Conversation Going
Benefits aren’t meant to be introduced once a year and forgotten. Regular touchpoints — whether they’re quick emails, printed flyers or seasonal updates — help employees understand what benefits are available and how to use them. Even small reminders can boost utilization and reinforce the value of the employer’s investment.
New Benefits provides printing services that make it easy to deliver materials — like desktop reminders, breakroom posters and wallet-sized quick-reference cards — that employees can reference anytime. These materials keep benefits visible and accessible long after open enrollment.
Add Transparency With Pricing Tools
One of the biggest barriers to using benefits is cost uncertainty. Employees often hesitate to schedule care or order services if they’re worried about unexpected bills. Providing pricing tools removes this friction.
When employees can see upfront what a lab test, dental procedure or telehealth visit will cost, they feel more confident making decisions. That transparency not only encourages utilization, it also reinforces trust between employees and their employer. By removing financial guesswork, HR gives employees more control — and more ownership — over their benefit choices.
Improve Employee Engagement With Apps and Portals
For many employees, the biggest challenge isn’t knowing what benefits exist — it’s remembering how to access them. A centralized app or portal simplifies the process by keeping everything in one place, making it easier for employees to find the support they need when they need it.
This approach paid off for Sally Beauty. By consolidating benefits into the New Benefits app, employees gained one easy access point for everything. Utilization improved. HR fielded fewer questions. And employees reported feeling more supported — proof that simplifying the experience drives engagement.
Final Thought: Engagement Creates Ownership
When HR leaders invest in ongoing communication, cost transparency and seamless access, they empower employees to take ownership of their benefits — creating happier, more loyal teams and a benefits strategy that delivers lasting value.
Ready to explore simple ways to boost employee engagement?
