Jen Benz outlines four trends in media that every benefits professional should understand in her April edition of Employee Benefit News article, “A new definition of ‘in-network’”.
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A new definition of “in-network”
Communication rules when you're in survival mode
This article in the Spring 2009 edition of MWorld, The Journal of the American Management Association, explains specific tactics that can ensure a company’s crisis communication is authentic and effective, including using social media and in-person communication to build trust and get information out quickly. It shows you effective ways to prepare for your next big communication event (whether or not you know when it will occur) by creating a communications Playbook, a ready-to-go document that can guide you through your next unexpected event.
Follow this link to visit the American Management Assocation Web site.
Think before you cut
CDHC Solutions has included Jen Benz’s article “Think Before You Cut: Why Slashing Benefits Communication in Tough Times May Actually Hurt Your Bottom Line” in their May edition.
The article states that reducing funding for benefits communication may do more harm than good. Benz then provides tactics for companies to improve the overall effectiveness of their benefits communication, and thus its results, specifically in tough economic times.
Workers want to know how CDHPs work for them, not the company
Jen Benz’s article, “Workers want to know how CDHPs work for them, not the company” has been included in Employee Benefit Adviser for March.
The article discusses ways to talk to employees about consumer-driven health plans so they see the benefit for their bottom line and not just the benefit for the company.
“Workers want to know how CDHPs work for them, not the company”
Media trends every benefits professional should understand
Jen wrote March’s feature article for Employee Benefit Adviser, “Media trends every benefits professional should understand.”
“Media trends every benefits professional should understand”
From the article:
New technology and a new digital experience are changing expectations for how, why and when people receive information. You might be able to argue that they are changing how we think. The top media trends today go way beyond influencing what is new or hip; they are fundamentally changing the way we experience the world.
Employee Benefit News features Benz Communications
Jennifer Benz is featured in the Employee Benefit News article “Looping them in” in the March 2009 print edition.
Benz discusses the importance of targeting communication to spouses and families who make up a large portion of health care costs. She also shares tips for making communication effective.
From the article:
“Benefit programs are really about how people manage their lives, and they impact very personal things like the health and finances of employees and their families,” concludes Benz, “so if you can help the families take better care of themselves, and that might just be simple ways to make the programs easier for them to use, they’re going to really appreciate that, and that’s going to translate into more trust and loyalty for the organization.”
Earning their affection
Employee Benefit Adviser’s February Issue will have Jen’s article “Earn your client’s appreciation and affection” about how benefits brokers can improve their client relationships with better communication.
Why you should maintain your investment in benefits communications during a down time
Best Practices in Compensation and Benefits’ March 2009 print issue includes Jen’s article “Why You Should Maintain Your Investment in Benefits Communications During a Down Time.” The article is available now on Compensation.BLR.com and is part of February’s Compensation Ezine.
“Why You Should Maintain Your Investment in Benefits Communications During a Down Time”
Resolve to communicate better, a lot better
The January 2010 edition of Employee Benefit Adviser includes Jennifer Benz’s article “Resolve to communicate better, a lot better.”
Jen writes about how better communication can help brokers and small consultants improve their businesses in the new year.
Workforce article quotes Jennifer Benz about social media
Workforce’s December article “Social media begins forcing the totally transparent layoff” discusses how the “once-private process of giving pink slips is becoming increasingly public, whether a firm likes it or not.”
Benz is quoted about social media’s role in this shift:
The combination of social media technology such as Twitter—where people post updates about themselves online at Twitter.com—and a cultural shift toward greater personal disclosure means more and more employees will document details of their dismissal, said Jennifer Benz, a communications consultant based in San Francisco.
“It’s really forcing companies to be increasingly transparent with what they do,” she said. “There’s no ability for a company to control the message like they used to.”
“Social media begins forcing the totally transparent layoff”