Success in any company begins with solid communication between human resources and the employees they serve. With plenty of deadlines to keep in mind throughout the year, the open enrollment period is no different. For clear, direct, and concise communication between employees and the HR department, Short Message Service (SMS), or otherwise know as texting is the key. While there are many ways to reach employees during open enrollment, text messaging is the fastest and the least time consuming.
With open enrollment upon us, being able to effectively communicate the specifics of each plan offered is imperative. In addition, being prepared and reducing the amount of time wasted doing mundane tasks will improve the overall function of your HR department.
Texting Is More COST Effective During Open Enrollment Periods
Sharing information with employees about the benefits offered can be costly and time consuming. Rather than print packets for everyone, or answer a wide range of phone calls, texting should be used. Whether you want to get employee's input or send out a reminder that it's time to sign up for benefits, text messaging is a fast way to communicate no matter where your employee is. A digital link is easy to access and to review benefit options rather than carring around a large packet of materials.
Remind Employees with Text Alerts
A mass text alert sent out to all of your employees about the start of open enrollment can get everyone ready to begin thinking about benefits. While discussing benefits with your employees may go on throughout the year, the open enrollment period gives employees a chance to change benefits if they choose to. Send out text reminders to employees who haven't reviewed their current benefit plan to ensure no one misses the deadline.
For more information on how you can use SMS to send alerts to remind your employees, text “OPEN” to 76000.
Links are Easy to Create to Provide Further Information
Your employees may want further information about various benefit plans you have to offer. When you have videos or PDF files to share regarding benefits, it's simple to send a link out to employees who request the information. Whether you send out a mass text, or wait until an employee requests specific information, sharing the content you have regarding benefits is easier through SMS.
Two Way Communication is Easier
Employees want quick communication with the HR department using the devices they are carrying around all day. When an employee can send a text message using a cell phone, they will be able to communicate with HR no matter where they are. While emails can be used for communication, this is not as effective as texting.
When you reduce the need for printed materials, you keep costs down. And with texting links to digital material, you are still able to provide plenty of information to your employees for selecting their benefits. Employees will be able to compare plans online, using their mobile devices. The information will be easy to access in a short text message format.
So during your next open enrollment, unleash the power of SMS. You will quickly see how communicating to your staff through SMS will both streamline the process and improve communication.
Ken Rhie is the CEO of Trumpia, which earned a reputation as the most complete SMS solution including user-friendly user interface and API for mobile engagement, Smart Targeting, advanced automation, enterprise, and cross-channel features for both mass texting and landline texting use cases. Mr. Rhie holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. He has over 30 years of experience in the software, internet, and mobile communications industries.
