The success of any company relies heavily on its employees. This is why it’s so crucial for a company to demonstrate values through a comprehensive total rewards program. Not only do total rewards programs encourage employee engagement, but they also maximize long-term value for organizations.
Both employees and employers find value in total rewards programs. When you successfully communicate what you have to offer, you better retain and attract talent.
According to Business News Daily, some of the top reasons why employees leave are due to base pay and inadequate benefits.
If a company isn’t offering great benefits and rewards to their employees, there will be a high turnover rate. In other words—if employees aren't getting out what they're putting into a company, they'll leave for something better.
Even if you offer incredible benefits, if you don't effectively communicate these to your employees, they could leave. Total rewards communication is important for improving employee engagement and to guarantee retention and satisfaction.
Here are five proven strategies for effectively communicating and increasing the value perception of your total rewards package.
1. Make It Personal
Employees today value direct communication. In other words, it's important that messages are being communicated with them, not at them. This is why it's important to tailor communication to each group of employees within your organization.
To effectively communicate your total rewards, it is essential to send out targeted and personalized messages. Start by understanding what and who your audience is. From there, curate your messaging to address the needs and concerns of each specific employee group.
If you already have a total rewards system in place, look back at which categories your employees interacted with the most. By utilizing this information, you can identify what your employees value and customize your communication accordingly.
It's also important to consider what your employees value and how it may differ depending on factors like age, marital status or what life stage they might be in. So, for example, younger employees may prioritize student loan repayment benefits or flexible work arrangements. But older generations may value retirement planning and healthcare benefits more.
When you can narrow down and target your communication, you’re able create more personalized messages about your company's values. Total rewards communication should convey that the company has the tools and the desire to help employees.
2. Leverage Multiple Channels
Today, most people use multiple communication channels daily to talk to different people. Younger generations have adapted to even having multiple conversations with the same person on different platforms.
So, to ensure the broadest reach of your message, utilize a variety of communication channels. These can include your company's website, email newsletters, social media platforms, posters, flyers, employee handbooks, and more.
By employing multiple channels, you increase the likelihood of your message sticking and being remembered in a positive manner. Switching it up also helps to prevent redundancy and helps employees feel more engaged.
Another reason to utilize multiple channels is to expand your reach. A younger employee may tend to check social media channels more often than email. Other generations may prefer receiving emails or a printed brochure with their options listed instead.
This is why it is important to consider your audiences and leverage multiple channels. Depending on which categories your employees fall under, you may consider using more of one kind of communication channel.
If most of your employees are not entry-level, it may be beneficial to use email as the main method of communication. However, for younger generations, it may make more sense to use social media channels as your primary method of communication.
3. Use Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful tool for communicating the true ways your total rewards program has value. Improving the employee experience is all about providing a way for people to be able to relate to each other. This can look like communication that includes real-life scenarios where their benefits or rewards have improved someone’s life.
Doing this makes the rewards tangible and relatable. Being able to relate to your employees as people is such a key aspect of communication. A great way to communicate employee benefits is by creating videos or podcasts that feature employee testimonials. This allows you to showcase the value in action.
To communicate the value of your programs, you could showcase employees' stories. For example, one story could be about how a wellness program helped an employee to better manage their diabetes. Another story could be about a family who was able to have children because of an adoption assistance benefit.
These stories create an emotional connection and enable employees to envision themselves benefiting from the rewards on offer.
4. Focus on Long-Term Value
While it is important to highlight immediate benefits, emphasizing the long-term value of your total rewards program is equally essential. Retirement benefits, career development opportunities, and other offerings that contribute to employees' long-term success should be emphasized and praised.
By showcasing the potential for growth and future success within your organization, you can attract and retain top talent. People today value a holistic approach to their professional journey. This looks like communicating the long-term value of each benefit you provide and how it supports well-being.
Additionally, consider communicating all the opportunities to grow and live well at your company. Show your employees that you care about their growth as individuals and as professionals at your organization. Perhaps you offer tuition reimbursement, courses through your business, or other career advancement opportunities. Regardless, these benefits won't have value for your employees if you don't use effective employee communication tools.
So, be sure to utilize your employee communication strategy to show the long-term value of your benefits.
5. Simplify the Message
In today's information-saturated world, simplicity is key to effective communication. Employees can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of communication they receive daily. That's why it is crucial to present your total rewards program in a clear and concise manner.
Use everyday language that is easy to understand and avoid jargon or technical terms that may confuse employees. This helps to prevent confusion and get the message across quickly and effectively.
Additionally, incorporate visually appealing and punchy graphics that capture attention to break down what each benefit offers. By simplifying the message, you ensure that employees receive and understand the value, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction. Opting for imagery over lengthy text can help simplify the message.
Being able to effectively communicate the value of your total rewards offering is vital for attracting and retaining top talent. By following these five tips, your organization can successfully convey the benefits of your total rewards package to employees.
This, in turn, improves engagement, loyalty, and overall satisfaction, leading to enhanced business performance and long-term success. Investing in communication strategies that resonate with employees will lead to a more positive work environment.
By increasing the long-term value of your total rewards program, you can more effectively communicate benefits to employees. Our goal is to simplify the message through clear and concise copy, complemented by visually appealing graphics.