This open enrollment season, add some helping hands to your HR team

Article

By Rob Hosking, Executive Director for Administrative and Customer Support, Robert Half

Open enrollment is one of the few times each year when every employee has questions—and HR is expected to have the answers.

Today, it's no longer just about choosing benefits. It's an opportunity to educate employees, communicate the value of what your organization offers and strengthen the overall employee experience. That's especially true as benefits become more personalized and employees want to understand which options best fit their lives.

As open enrollment has evolved, so have the demands on HR teams. According to Robert Half research, 71% of leaders plan to bring on additional professionals to support open enrollment-related workloads this year.

That need for additional support extends beyond simply managing heavier workloads. Leaders say their biggest challenges include processing high volumes of enrollment data and forms, working with manual or outdated systems, creating clear employee communications and supporting increased demand on benefits teams and call centers.

That's why many organizations turn to contract HR and administrative professionals during open enrollment. Bringing in contract professionals can help organizations meet those demands while giving internal teams more time to focus on employees and the strategic work that keeps the business moving forward.

Learn more about how seasonal employees can help your workplace.

Preparing for open enrollment season

Why additional support matters during open enrollment
Where contract professionals can make the biggest impact
How contract professionals can strengthen your open enrollment process

Why additional support matters during open enrollment

The demands of open enrollment are added to everything else your HR team is already managing. Contract HR and administrative professionals can step in to support benefits administration, employee communications, enrollment support and high-volume administrative work, giving your internal team more time to focus on strategic priorities while helping employees navigate the enrollment process with confidence.

Here's why this approach works:

1. Perks and benefits are often one of the first ways employees compare employers. While health insurance remains one of the most valued benefits, today's employees increasingly expect a broader mix of offerings that support every stage of life. Flexible work options, caregiving support, family-planning assistance, mental health resources, financial wellness programs, enhanced retirement benefits and even pet insurance are just a few examples. Bringing in contract HR and administrative professionals can help organizations manage increased employee questions, communicate benefits more effectively and create a smoother open enrollment experience for everyone involved.

2. Today's workforce spans multiple generations, life stages and personal priorities. That makes it more important than ever to offer benefits that meet employees where they are. A recent graduate may value student loan assistance or financial wellness resources, while a parent may prioritize caregiving support and someone nearing retirement may focus on retirement planning. The more opportunities employees have to personalize their benefits selections, the more likely they are to find options that fit their needs. Contract HR and administrative professionals can help answer employee questions, explain available options and support a more personalized enrollment experience without adding to your core team's workload.

3. Today's HR teams often support employees across multiple states and countries while managing an increasingly digital enrollment process. Apps, self-service portals and other digital tools have streamlined many administrative tasks, but employees still rely on knowledgeable HR professionals to answer questions and help them make informed benefits decisions. Contract HR and administrative professionals can provide that support while helping keep the enrollment process on track.

4. The work doesn't end when open enrollment closes. In many ways, that's when some of the most valuable insights begin. Employee questions, participation trends and enrollment data can help HR teams identify opportunities to improve communications, refine future enrollment strategies and better understand what employees value most. Contract professionals with data analysis experience can help turn those insights into action while allowing your HR team to stay focused on day-to-day priorities.

Where contract professionals can make the biggest impact

Many organizations supplement their existing HR teams with experienced professionals who can step in quickly during peak enrollment periods, helping maintain service levels while reducing the administrative burden on internal staff.

Among the most commonly outsourced roles for open enrollment season are:

Compensation and benefits administrators

Customer support specialists

Data entry specialists

Enrollment specialists

HR assistants, generalists and recruiters

Member services specialists

How contract professionals can strengthen your open enrollment process

Whether your organization needs help processing enrollment materials, responding to employee questions or strengthening benefits communications, contract professionals can provide targeted expertise where workloads are greatest.

By leveraging contract talent to support your open enrollment tasks, you’ll be better positioned to:

Drive higher benefits enrollment and participation

Support a more personalized benefits experience

Ensure more effective benefits communication

Ensure all employees are being served inclusively and equitably

Make data-driven decisions

Get more value for your budget

Organizations don't have to choose between delivering a great open enrollment experience and keeping business priorities on track. The right contract professionals help make both possible.

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