Survey: Employers lag in offering 'consumer'-like benefits tech

Dive Brief:

New research from Thomsons Online Benefits has found renewed economic optimism for business growth, as 41% of enterprise companies globally look to increase headcount in 2015 between 1% to 15%.
Nevertheless, to attract and retain top talent, businesses will need new strategies to engage their multi-generational workforce around the rewards they receive, according to Thomsons.
The research indicates that the root of the problem lies in employers not having a tailored communications approach for the multi-generational workforce. Only 13% of the 300 organizations in the USA, EMEA and APAC surveyed use mobile applications and videos (14%) in benefits communications, with even less using social media (5%).

Dive Insight:

Chris Bruce, founder at the company, says businesses cannot underestimate the importance of clear, accessible HR and benefits communications.

"We are now in the digital age; millennials, and soon Generation Z -- particularly those with high technical proficiency -- are becoming the dominant force in our workplaces," Bruce says. "Demand for high-quality millennials far outstrips supply. It’s imperative that businesses consider their needs alongside all other generations if they are to attract, retain and develop their talent."

Bruce adds that most employees won't sit around faced with clumsy interfaces once a year to find out about benefits. They want HR and benefits systems that are employee centric: intuitive, visually appealing and able to communicate their options in a way that suits them -- be this by text or YouTube. Anything less than consumer grade technology is frustrating, disengaging and fundamentally pushing them out of the door, he says.

On the upside, the research shows some employers are waking up to the value of technology in employee engagement. Almost a third (29%) of companies globally will spend more on benefits technology in 2015 than they did last year, with 55% saying that employee-facing benefits portals are on top of their lists for benefits technology investment.