October 27, 2023 How to Educate New Gen Z on Healthcare Plans

Over one-third of the population is Gen Z, meaning that they are well on the way to becoming a significant portion of the upcoming workforce.

As Gen Z steps onto the world stage, employers are tasked with understanding how this generation thinks and how to attract the top candidates. These bright, young candidates are showing more discernment in their employment choices, including choosing employers that offer employee benefits and give their employees support to get the most out of them.

Why Does Benefits Education Matter for Gen Z Employees?

Employers may have just figured out millennials, but this new generation is radically different than the previous generations. They’re tech-savvy and quick to rely on technology for their day-to-day needs. If they don’t understand something, they’ll research it to make an informed decision – which is where benefits education comes into play.

Here are some other reasons benefits education is crucial for Gen Z employees:

Increased Job Satisfaction

Competitive benefits packages are important for attracting talent, but they don’t help much if the employees don’t understand their true value. It’s about more than money – Gen Z employees want to know that their employer is invested in their welfare and growth, in turn making them more invested in the company and its future. Offering customized benefits that align with each individual’s lifestyle, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, shows inclusion.

Improved Retention

Educating employees about their benefits is an investment in their future. When you illustrate the true value of your benefits offerings, you show your employees what you’re providing and encourage more loyalty. A well-informed Gen Z workforce is more likely to commit to an organization that’s invested in their success and future.

Empowered Decision-Making

Knowledge is power, and by educating Gen Z employees about their benefits, you give them the tools to make the best decisions for their individual needs. They can take advantage of the benefits that make the most sense for them, ensuring that neither you nor the employee is wasting money on benefits they can’t use.

Enhanced Productivity

Employees have to be engaged at all levels to foster a dynamic, efficient workforce. Part of employee engagement is ensuring that your employees feel supported and valued, empowering them to give their all at work. Comprehensive benefits education that’s targeted specifically to the needs of Gen Z members cultivates a more productive and engaged workforce.

Stronger Relationships

Showing support and empathy for your employees strengthens your employee-employer bond, encourages better communication, and promotes job satisfaction. As Gen Z employees become more engaged, their loyalty and dedication will improve.

How to Get Started with Benefits Education

Providing your Gen Z employees with benefits education creates a more informed, empowered, and engaged workforce. Here’s how you can include more benefits education in your company:

Benefits Orientation

Employees need to be informed about their benefits from the very start. It’s important to introduce benefits education during the onboarding process and provide detailed overviews of the benefits options. You should go over each component and discuss their value. Starting this process early sets the stage for future educational opportunities and demonstrates your company’s dedication to your employees’ satisfaction and wellbeing.

Training Workshops

Regular training workshops or seminars with a focus on specific benefits, such as wealth protection, healthcare plans, retirement planning, and wellness programs, are crucial to help your Gen Z employees understand what’s available to them. They may be led by benefits specialists, HR professionals, or other experts and should include a short session for employees to ask questions and address concerns. This helps you not only address the diverse needs of your workforce but encourage your employees to seek information and ask questions openly.

One-on-One Consultations

One-on-one sessions between Gen Z employees and HR and benefits specialists can help employees address any concerns in a more private setting. They have the time and attention to discuss their unique situations and get customized advice to get the most out of their benefits packages.

Online Resources

Employees can access the information they need at any time and from anywhere with online resources for benefits education. You should provide a user-friendly and current platform that’s designed for self-paced learning and independent inquiry, empowering your employees to take control of their experience. Interactive or multimedia elements like videos and interactive quizzes are helpful for keeping employees engaged in the process.

Routine Benefits Communication

If there are changes to your benefits packages, keep employees aware with newsletters, emails, and meetings. Open lines of communication show that you’re transparent and invested in your employees’ experience, particularly when it comes to benefits. This also gives them an opportunity to provide feedback, voice concerns, and ask questions, giving you insights to improve your benefits education strategy for the future.

Benefits Events

Benefits fairs or conferences give your employees an opportunity to interact with representatives from different healthcare providers and other benefits providers and learn more about what’s available. These events help them gain a deeper understanding of their options and make the entire benefits education experience much more engaging for employees.

Interactive Tools

Interactive tools are often more engaging than dry text or lectures. Simulators, quizzes, and calculators can help employees better understand their benefits and take a more active role in the experience, leading to more enjoyable and effective decision-making. This is ideal for Gen Z – a generation that grew up in a largely digital world and expects technologically sophisticated solutions.

Use Benefits Education to Attract the New Workforce

Benefits education is advantageous for your entire organization, but it’s vital to attracting and retaining Gen Z employees. Ensuring that you not only offer competitive benefits but support your Gen Z employees in learning how to make the most of them increases workplace satisfaction, improves productivity, and fosters loyalty between you and your employees.

About the Author:
Frank Mengert continues to find success by spotting opportunities where others see nothing. As the founder and CEO of ebm, a leading provider of employee benefits solutions. Frank has built the business by bridging the gap between insurance and technology-driven solutions for brokers, consultants, carriers, and employers nationwide.

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