Self-service tools can bring a wealth of information to employees at the touch of their fingertips. Benefit portals, intranet sites, and apps can serve as an extension of the HR department to answer common questions, provide details about leave and disability programs and serve as an additional source of support to employees when and where it works for them.
The strength of self-service tools lies in:
- Employee empowerment. Giving employees access and visibility helps deepen their engagement within the organization and increase their awareness of available programs, which in turn reduces potential issues with unplanned absences or unexpected attendance.
- 24/7 availability. Employees who are experiencing health issues or have family members who require care and assistance often struggle to get in touch with their case managers in a defined work schedule. Providing round-the-clock access lets employees obtain key information at a time and place that is convenient for them.
- Real-time access to key information. As information is updated in real time, it allows employees to understand where they are in the process and what is expected of them as they transition from one milestone to another.
Other resources that help engage employees include SMS communications at key milestones of a leave or disability event, educational materials or inserts advertising employee assistance programs, critical illness or supplemental disability benefits, return-to-work protocols, and baby bonding and new parent programs.
Although portals and apps give employees access to information at lightning speed, technology only goes so far. Employers must also provide appropriate support to their employees when and how they need it. There will always be times when there is no substitute for the empathy or understanding found through the human touch.
