Communicating Employee Benefits

Day 1

1. Introductions

1. Strategically Planning Communications
   1. Compliance
   2. Retention/Recruitment
   3. Engagement
   4. Productivity
   5. Cost savings
   6. Continuous feedback
2. Identify Learning Styles and Diverse Needs
   1. Learning styles
   2. Language barriers
      1. Open enrollment example
   3. Workplace locations
   4. Generational differences
   5. Ability differences
   6. Activity: Open enrollment communication
3. Communication Goals
   1. Why goals matter
   2. Who/Know/Do/Feel Lens
   3. Activity: Analyzing a sent message
   4. Comprehension considerations
   5. Engagement
   6. Outcomes
      1. Define success first
      2. Importance
      3. S.M.A.R.T. goals
      4. Activity: Create S.M.A.R.T goals
      5. The feedback loop
      6. Survey for information
      7. Engagement metrics
      8. ROI vs. VOI
      9. Activity: ROI vs. VOI and goal setting
      10. Measuring success

Day 2

4. Effective Communication
   1. How we communicate
      1. Channels
      2. Modes of communication
   2. When we communicate
   3. What to communicate
   4. Where to communicate
      1. Invisible employees
      2. The skill of communicating
      3. Activity: Corporate Improv
   5. Communication Blunders
      1. Types of blunders
      2. How to fix them
      3. Activity: Message Makeover
5. Technology, Vendor Partnerships, Outsourcing, & Artificial Intelligence
   1. What have you used and how did it work?
   2. Self-assess your organization
   3. Tools for Communication
      1. Foundational tools
      2. Additional tools
   4. Outsourcing
      1. Budgeting
      2. Consultants
      3. Support tools
   5. Artificial Intelligence Technology in Communication
6. Year-Round Communications
   1. Compliance
   2. Pull and push communications
   3. Downsides
   4. Activity: Year-Round communication plan
7. Case Study
   The case study for this course involves the development of a comprehensive, year-round communication plan tailored for a hypothetical company profile. Students will be assigned to small teams and tasked with outlining a detailed communication calendar that highlights core messages, employs effective communication channels, and includes potential engagement metrics to assess success. Teams will present their proposed communication plan to the larger group.
8. The Ever-Changing World of Benefits Communication