Recent JLT survey, which questioned a group of around 250 leading companies, found that 17% of employers thought it up to employees to find out and understand what employee benefits where offered by the organisation, while 2% had no communications policy about their employee benefits package.

However the survey also found that:

• 55% did think it was important that employees were aware of their benefits
• 45% thought it was important for employee to know the value of their package
• 44% thought their benefits were important in order to retain and attract staff

Why is promoting your employee benefits important?

It’s really important that your employees understand the full value that they receive from working with your organisation. It’s only when they really understand the full value, that you can get the maximum benefit, and improve your employee loyalty, reduce recruitment costs, and improve your image as a company to work for.

The main way you can promote your employee benefits is through regular communications with your employees and having information available on each benefit you offer.

Here are five quick tips to help you when you write your benefits information:

1. Give an overview of each benefit that is on offer.
2. Let your employees know about the associated cost savings, e.g. if the benefits is via Salary Sacrifice, make reference to the tax and National Insurance savings.
3. Highlight the advantages to your employees of each benefit, and how it can help them, through case studies or testimonials.
4. Let employees know where they can get more information about each of the benefits; make it easy for them to find the information they want.
5. Provide contact information for your employees, so they can talk to benefits providers directly.

Hold an employee benefits focus day

Why not follow Waitrose’s lead? Waitrose are holding an Employee Ownership Day on the 4th July. The day aims to raise awareness of the benefits of being a co-owned business for employees. Having a day focused on your employee benefits, or even just one type of benefit, is a great way to raise the profile of your employee benefits offer.

You can start the day with an email to all your employees including information about the benefits package; create a display in an area where employees can gather; invite benefit providers in to talk about their particular service; and you can ask employees who have already benefited from the scheme to talk about how they’ve been helped.

What else can you do?

Here are some more ideas for you:

• Newsletters
• Posters
• Internal communication articles
• Emails
• Leaflets left on desks
• Information sent directly to the employees home
• Presentation in company-wide meetings
• Updates in team meetings
• Screen savers
• Stickers on salary slips/envelopes

This isn’t a finite list. There are lots of ways to promote employee benefits in your business, but remember to communicate in several different ways, as not all of us like to receive our communications in the same way.

So what can you do to promote benefits within your business? Why not brainstorm some ideas now!

Kuljit Kuar

Kuljit is responsible for business development at The Voucher Shop, a  division of p&mm ltd. Your one stop shop for corporate vouchers and gift cards for employee benefits, recognition or rewards.