Why Business Teams are Looking for Low-Lift Benefits Before Open Enrollment Season

Summer is in full swing, and human resources leaders are hard at work evaluating the Q3 lineup of benefits options. Anymore, teams are shouldered with the challenging task of evaluating coverage, costs, and changes. Some benefits challenges are hard to mitigate, but smart teams are revising their strategies ahead of the third quarter.

Before open enrollment season kicks off, implement low-lift benefits like employee discounts to bolster your employee benefits lineup. Employers are committed to retaining talent, keeping employees engaged, and supporting wellness initiatives, all while staying on budget. Achieve all that and more by moving up your benefits strategy to the summer months with these four considerations.

Summer Costs Challenge Employee Budgets – But Corporate Discount Programs Come in for the Save

School may be out, but the registration fees, entertainment opportunities, and memory-making moments are just getting started. Make summer magic possible by launching a corporate discount program that makes it possible for your employees to say “yes” to more.

Your employees can choose how and when they use their workplace discount program. With access to savings on everyday items and expenses, employees effectively boost their paychecks just by using your platform. This helps enhance the value of their employment and increases their overall compensation.

Browsing on their work-life balance benefits site can also provide inspiration for future trips and adventures. With access to workplace discounts, it’s easier to see what they can do while still maintaining their budget.

Employee discounts aren’t just about the financial perks, it’s also about enhancing quality of life. With a value-added workplace discount program, your employees can enhance their lifestyle in the way that suits them. For example, an employee planning a summer family trip may use workplace discounts on hotels, attractions, and rental cars to reduce out-of-pocket expenses while creating memorable experiences.

Easy Administration Makes Implementation Easy and Achievable, No Matter How Busy Business Teams Are

Skip the spreadsheets, the presentations, and the budget dilemmas with an easy-to-implement and administer program. Time-tested and proven platforms make choosing a benefits solution simple and even easier to administer.

When HR teams are time-strapped, there’s nothing like working with a true partner in benefits administration. Collaborate with us to develop your dashboard for your employees’ interests and highlight relevant offers. By building this together, you’ll have a more successful launch and have a higher likelihood of long-term adoption and utilization.

Tap into curated launch materials like messaging, graphics, and how-to guides for easy implementation of your employee discount platform. There’s no need to build everything yourself – your HR team has guidance and support every step of the way.

Access to Work-Life Balance Benefits is Immediate and Ongoing

Open enrollment season happens, but once a year for employees, but benefits leaders work year-round on offerings. Instead of waiting for open enrollment and adding more to benefits administrators’ stress levels, look to workplace savings programs.

Employees have equal access to this valuable workplace benefit immediately. There’s no waiting period for eligibility, no limit to how much they can save, and nothing for employers to approve. Beyond launching the program, nurturing its utilization, and championing its relevancy, it’s as hands-off as they come.

When savings are immediate, employees can explore discounts that fit their lives now and as things change. Everyday savings on restaurants and insurance make an immediate financial impact. Big-ticket trips are in closer reach and more frequent when shopped on your discount platform.

As families grow, change, and interests shift, your workplace discount program is right there, ready with the perfect opportunity. That’s one of the best parts of a discount platform – the variety of offers makes discovery endless.

Workplace Benefits Enhance the Employee Experience at a Critical Time

Mid-year can drag on, as employees strive to reach key targets. The summer months can make it harder to focus, and may even tempt some to consider other opportunities.

When you make an off-cycle benefits enhancement, however, you send an important signal to your teams – You care about their wellbeing and are offering something to help them support their lives outside of work.

Employee engagement dips ahead of potentially challenging times, like quarter-end, at review season, and even open enrollment. When people anticipate bad or less than ideal news, it’s easy to lose engagement.

Boost morale and actual employee happiness with life-enhancing discounts. Discounts offer equitable access to employees regardless of their core benefits needs or full or part-time status.

Workplace benefits invite household engagement, too, as someone other than the employee may manage the budget or travel planning. Programs can also boost morale among family members, who may shoulder additional burden due to employee workloads or travel commitments. When everyone feels the love, it’s easier to earn employee engagement and loyalty.

Lift Low, Aim High, and Achieve More with a Winning Corporate Discount Program

When you partner with a workplace discount platform like Working Advantage, you unlock a valuable benefit for your employees. By offering valuable discounts that enhance your employees’ wellbeing, winning is easy.

Without the requirement to build, launch, and manage your own program, benefits teams can focus on core objectives. And with access to corporate discounts across the organization, your employees can realize their benefits on day one.

FAQ Section

What Are Low-Lift Employee Benefits?

Low-lift employee benefits are programs that deliver meaningful value to employees while requiring minimal administration, implementation time, or budget investment from employers. Unlike benefits that involve complex enrollment processes or ongoing management, low-lift options such as employee discount programs can often be launched quickly and accessed immediately by employees. These benefits help organizations enhance their overall benefits package without adding significant work for HR teams.

When Should Employers Introduce New Benefits Before Open Enrollment?

Employers do not need to wait for open enrollment to enhance their benefits offering. Mid-year is often an ideal time to introduce supplemental benefits, especially those that can be implemented quickly and provide immediate value. Launching a new benefit before open enrollment allows employees to begin using it right away, while also helping employers support engagement, wellbeing, and retention throughout the year.

How Do Employee Discount Programs Support Retention?

Employee discount programs support retention by helping employees stretch their budgets and access savings on everyday purchases, travel, entertainment, and other lifestyle expenses. When employees feel that their employer is investing in their overall wellbeing, they are more likely to view their compensation package favorably and feel connected to the organization. While discounts may not be the sole driver of retention, they can contribute to a more positive employee experience and reinforce the value of working for the company.

Do Employee Discount Programs Require Administrative Oversight?

Most employee discount programs require very little ongoing administrative oversight. Once the program is launched, employees can typically access and use discounts independently without employer approval or manual administration. Many providers also offer communication resources, promotional materials, and customer support, making it easier for HR teams to maintain awareness and engagement without creating additional workload.