Employers rely on dedicated employees to keep them in business.To be engaged, employees need to feel valued, cared for andsatisfied on multiple levels. Employers should focus on supportingemployees' well-being, including their physical, financial, social,personal and family needs.

Comprehensive Coverage

The most effective benefits are ones that fitemployees' needs. A comprehensive benefits package is animportant step in fulfilling employees' lives, and it providesincredible value for employers:

• Encourages employee retention – Research by theSociety for Human Resource Management (2015) showed that benefitsare more important to employees than overall pay or compensation.Consider offering benefits rewardsplans that provide motivation for staying withemployers because incentives build from one year to the next.

• Supports different employee health and budgetneeds – Look for insurance carriers thathave multiple plan options, giving employeesseveral choices in price and coverage. Here are two examples:

• Senior-level employees may want plans that address health needsthat change as they age.

• New workers enrolling in benefits for the first time may want asimple plan that covers basic needs. These plans typically costless, and features are easier to understand.

• Helps control costs –Offering voluntary plans gives employersa financial break when employees are willing to pay some, or all,of the premium.

• Features flexibility – A planthat combines vision and dental benefits, andhas just one maximum benefit dollar amount per year, helps employersand employees cut costs. And employees can choose how to use theirbenefits. For example, dental and vision benefits helpemployees:

• pay for dental and vision exams, procedures and materials

• save money through dental and vision provider networks

• detect certain diseases in the early stages

• improve their appearance for better self-esteem

Carrier Partnership Look for carriers that havea reputation as excellent partners, willing to explain benefitschoices to employees. A carrier that offers superior customerservice and dedicated service representatives will leave employeeswith fewer questions and complaints for benefits administrators,while employers will have fewer issues for benefits brokers.