Comments on: Open enrollment – stop rolling your eyes, yes you have to go

By: Terri

Terri — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:17:26 +0000

Good luck on your SPHR! You can find some useful tips at http://www.hrcpblog.com. Don’t panic, get enough sleep, don’t over analyze the questions, answer every question, trust your first impressions, and realize this is just a test which doesn’t define who you are or what you know.

By: adowling

adowling — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:12:20 +0000

@Pasmuz – Excellent additions! I had employee tell me he only wanted dental and wanted to know if he still had to complete a form. That fully deserved a Really?

@Ben – Ugh, stragglers make my head hurt.

@Steve – It’s just mean to tell someone they cant have benefits next year because they were out with a sick child. I’ll give people a hard time about it but I always try to find a way to get them in.

@Charlie Judy – I’ve tried to teach employees the how the plan is designed, the why’s, but I get glazed over looks. Most dont care until it affects them personally.

@Teresa – You forgot the candy?!?! Shame on you!

@Krista – Thanks Krista, I’m only mildly freaking out about it

By: Krista Francis

Krista Francis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:12:07 +0000

Good luck on your SPHR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to hear…

By: Teresa Morris

Teresa Morris — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:14:30 +0000

We had our meetings today, and damn…we forgot the candy! I’m so fired. This would be an ideal time to I pretend I don’t have anything to do with HR and am just a lowly bean counter. Thank goodness our group is <100.

By: Charlie Judy

Charlie Judy — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:52:08 +0000

Great tips, all of them relevant and practical. We’re in the midst of it right now so will apply immediately. I like the phased open enrollment approach – give EEs a heads-up as far out as possible on contribution changes (that’s at top of mind for them). start with a range and then narrow it to actuals as you get closer to enrollment. i also think focusing on the “why” rather than the “what” during open enrollment sessions goes a long way – helping people understand how plans are designed, how they are priced, and how the changes made impact things at their level (i.e. cost). finally, before we go into the renewal period, we conduct a company-wide poll around “if you could change one thing about the benefit plans, what would it be.” while not every suggestion is practical, it at least gives people a chance to participate in the decisions which affect them. great post.

By: Steve Boese

Steve Boese — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:32:10 +0000

Love the tip about the wiggle room. Everybody has lives, issues, problems etc. And some people will miss the date. Don’t be a jerk and make sure people have the correct coverage. Great post.

By: Ben Eubanks

Ben Eubanks — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:36:58 +0000

Excellent tips for both sides. I saw our benefits coordinator go out and spread word to the masses earlier this summer, and it was crazy how many of them either didn’t reply at all or waited until the last day.

By: Pasmuz

Pasmuz — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:16:16 +0000

Employees: Don’t resist filling out a form that indicates your benefit choices (HR people really can’t read minds). Or tell me that where your friends work, they don’t have to go through Open Enrollment.

HR Peeps: Refrain from saying, “really?” and realize some employees will always believe you love administration more than you love them.

By: Tweets that mention Open enrollment – stop rolling your eyes, yes you have to go | PseudoHR -- Topsy.com

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:38:53 +0000

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