With open enrollment season just around the corner, HR professionals have a prime opportunity to showcase their wellness programs. As employees review their health benefits, now is the perfect time to highlight new offerings, assess the effectiveness of current programs, and remind everyone of existing benefits they might not be fully using. Discover how to make the most of this annual event and maximize your wellness initiatives.
Kick Off Open Enrollment with New Wellness Perks
Beyond the usual review of health insurance and retirement plans, open enrollment offers the perfect opportunity to introduce new fitness and wellness initiatives. With rising healthcare costs and an increasing emphasis on mental and physical health, it’s an ideal time to launch programs like comprehensive fitness apps, gym memberships, mental health resources, or wellness challenges.
Showcasing these options during open enrollment demonstrates your commitment to employee well-being and aligns with the growing expectation that employers support both physical and mental health.
Assess and Adjust: Improve your Current Benefits
Before open enrollment begins, it’s a perfect time to evaluate your current wellness programs. Are your employees using the benefits you’re offering? If not, it could be time for a refresh.
Not everyone wants the same perks, so understanding your employees’ preferences can help you choose the best options. You can gather this feedback through surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one conversations.
If your fitness programs aren’t getting much traction, ask your employees why. A recent survey by PEAR Health Labs, the AI platform behind the Aaptiv app, found that many employees skip fitness programs simply because they’re not interested in what’s available. Offering incentives and rewards can be a great way to spark excitement and boost participation.
Another common roadblock is finding time for exercise with a busy schedule. One solution is to create a workplace culture that encourages movement throughout the day. This starts with support from the top—when the CEO and managers get involved in wellness initiatives, employees are more likely to join in.
Cutting Through the Noise: Communicating for Maximum Impact
Open enrollment is the perfect time to remind your employees about all the benefits they can access and encourage them to get involved. However, since employees are often overwhelmed with information during this period, it’s essential to make your messaging clear, concise, and engaging.
Use a variety of channels to reach everyone — whether they’re in the office or working remotely. Consider promoting your wellness benefits through infographics, emails, webinars, Slack or Teams messages, bulletin boards in break rooms, and even one-on-one meetings. This ensures every employee knows what’s available and how to access it easily.
Open enrollment is a crucial responsibility for HR—it’s a chance to level up your company’s wellness programs and make sure your employees are fully aware of all the great benefits they have. By adding new programs, evaluating the ones you already have, and communicating clearly, you can create a culture of health and wellness that benefits both your employees and the organization.
Aaptiv: An Ideal Add-on for Open Enrollment
Aaptiv’s all-in-one fitness solution offers over 10,000 on-demand and AI-powered workout plans tailored to employees’ interests, fitness levels, and schedules. Aaptiv makes it easy for every employee to find a routine that fits their lifestyle. Additionally, Aaptiv provides access to one of the largest gym networks in the country, including 20,000 local and national brands and boutique studios— available exclusively as an employer/health plan benefit, with multiple membership options to fit any wellness budget.
Learn more about Aaptiv employee wellness and fitness benefits.
