In this episode we spoke with Ben Yomtoob, President of Workterra, about the future of benefits administration. He detailed how technology, automation, and real-life support can work together to create a better benefits experience for both employers and employees.
Workterra is a leading benefits administration and enrollment platform that is built to simplify the growing complexity of benefits administration. Ben brings extensive technology and benefit strategy experience to his new role at Workterra from his time as a benefits technology advisor at leading national brokerage firm, Gallagher.
Ben’s Path to Workterra
Ben’s whole career has been about the workplace and how to make the workplace more accommodating for employees. He can still remember getting his first benefit package and trying to make sense out of it. He knew there must be a better way to deliver benefits than the traditional experience with huge packets of paper being handed out by HR. Ben spent seven years with Delta Dental, followed by seven years with Gallagher, where he advised brokers, carriers, and employers on benefits technology. So not only does Ben have a deep understanding of benefits administration and the Workterra platform, he also has a wide view of the benefits technology landscape and the needs these platforms attempt to address for employers and their teams.
Employer Issues With Benefits Administration
Employers and employees alike have issues with the traditional way that benefits are administered. On the employer side, a big issue that Ben points out is that HR departments aren’t getting any bigger. Especially in a post-pandemic environment, HR teams have more responsibilities than ever. Running and administering benefits programs takes a lot of time and effort, and they need help to efficiently manage this workload.
Employers also want education and advice as they figure out which benefits to offer. We know benefits literacy is a challenge for everyone, and how benefits are delivered can strongly influence how employees perceive their value. That’s why it’s so important that employers get the help they need to choose the best benefits for their team, streamline enrollment, and make ongoing administration a smooth, easy process.
Employee Issues With Benefits Administration
A lot of employee issues around benefits administration are about education. Benefits can be very difficult to understand, and it can feel like each product exists in a vacuum. Delivering a great benefits experience, Ben says, hinges on knitting the entire benefit program together so that it feels cohesive. It shouldn’t feel like one disconnected product after another. Employees should be able to understand how they are covered and what that means holistically for their family’s health and finances.
How Workterra is Improving Benefits Administration
There are three key ways that Workterra is approaching improving benefits administration. The first is leveraging technology that makes it easier for employers to automate their benefits programs. They use technology that is extremely configurable, so they can meet employers wherever they are.
The second is to get employers up and running quickly, so they can upgrade their benefits experience at any time. That enables employers to come to Workterra late in the year and still be able to improve their benefits administration.
The third way Workterra is improving benefits administration is with a robust, human support team. The reality is that automation can’t solve every single one of employers’ benefits problems, and trying to do so can just lead to frustration. That’s why the Workterra platform is surrounded with expert customer support that can provide that help to employers when they need it.
Individualized Benefits Programs & The Future of Benefits
In the past, employers offered a pretty standard set of benefits meant to take care of most employees at their company. However, today we have more diversity in the workplace, including five generations in the workforce at the same time. That’s why the future of benefits will be centered around more customizable benefits programs.
Benefits programs will likely look more like a menu of options that employees can choose based on their life stage and family situation. Employees need just enough options so they can choose the benefits that are important to them and enhance their lives. It’s not about providing infinite choices; it’s more about providing the right choices for all of your employees. Employees want to have benefits that fit their unique needs, all delivered in a seamless, easy to understand way.
To hear more insights from Ben, including how the pandemic has altered the benefits landscape, listen to Episode 23 of Better Benefits now. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform.
Ben’s Recommended Resource
On every episode of Better Benefits, we ask our expert guests for a book or resource they’d recommend to others working in the benefits space. This week, Ben recommended
Personality Isn’t Permanent by Psychologist Benjamin Hardy. He tells us that unlike a lot of typical business books, this one is strongly based in science and research. It’s the perfect marriage of neuroscience and business advice, so you can feel confident in trying out the approaches he recommends.
If you’d like to connect with Ben and the team at Workterra, you can visit the Workterra website or email them at sales@workterra.com. Note, this episode is for informational and educational purposes only. Ben Yomtoob and Workterra are not endorsed, affiliated with, nor compensated by Greenhouse Life Insurance Company.
If you want to get in touch with Mike or learn more about Ansel, visit our website or email us at sales@joinansel.com.
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