It happens in every scary movie — that moment when the main character is running in the wrong direction, opening the wrong door, or backing into something that is definitely going to ruin her day.
And there you are on the other side of the screen, clutching your popcorn bowl, frantically waving at the victim to get her to turn around, run away, or HIDE!
Annual Enrollment can have the same kind of effect on an HR/benefits team. With so many moving parts, there are bound to be surprises, many of which will cause your heart to skip a beat. So, today we reach deep into the cobwebs to bring you some chilling tales of AE fails. But we’ll also provide some tips to prevent those horror stories from happening in the future.
So grab your flashlight and comfort blanket. It’s about to get spooky!
All Work And No Play — A True Story of Horror
In The Shining, Jack Torrance’s writer’s block drove him mad. Decision paralysis like this can happen to your employees if you offer a new benefit package without the proper education. For example, let’s say you decide to offer an HDHP in partnership with an HSA account but don’t properly communicate the difference between that and a PPO to your employees.
(Cue trailer voiceover) IN A WORLD OF POOR COMMUNICATION… an employee signs up for an HDHP because they are impressed by the price tag. In January, they break their leg and need very expensive care. Disgruntled by the cost, the employee takes to social media to complain about their healthcare coverage, creating a public relations nightmare. How can you avoid this scary situation?
The Curious Case of the Possessed Phones — Your Team is Wearing Out
During Annual Enrollment, it can feel like you’re trying to beat back a million zombies infiltrating your shelter. You’re locked and loaded with your benefits knowledge, but you simply can’t keep up with the call volume and sheer number of questions coming in from your employees about their benefits. Plus, you still have your daily HR/benefits responsibilities to get to! AE is a time when your HR/benefits team can get burnt out. That can lead to bigger problems down the road. How can you combat this scary combination? Artificial intelligence.
How the House Became Haunted — An Employee Misses AE
We’ve heard the stories. Something tragic happens in a house somewhere, and next thing you know, it’s haunted. If an employee misses the annual enrollment deadline, everyone living in the same home could suffer, including loss of coverage for themselves and their family members, and the inability to change coverage if an emergency occurs. For your organization, it can impact productivity and result in added administrative burdens. As HR/benefits pros, we understand that due to legal limitations, there aren’t that many options available to those who miss the deadline. Don’t risk getting ghosted by employees who end up having to leave your organization to find benefits elsewhere. Try these simple solutions instead.
We hope these stories will help you get through this spooky time of year. If you need more content to bolster your nerve, check out our Reality Based Leadership Series video Part 1 that can help prep your team for AE greatness.