Video is a powerful medium. Moving pictures and sound capture our attention better than any other communication vehicle. When deployed in an office environment, video is a terrific choice for keeping emplo
Well executed, video can set the right mood and tone for any message - and it can make a business come across as far more professional and polished.
Many companies are already using video, most especially during their on-boarding process - new hire employees typically see their first corporate video within a few days of being hired. Companies at the forefront of this trend know that video effectively and consistently conveys messages, reduces costs, and sets the right tone for their brand.
Here are several other reasons to make the use of video more prevalent in your organization.
From a very young age, we learn to love or at least pay attention to moving pictures, whether it’s Saturday morning cartoons or an educational video in school. It is no different in the corporate world. When you play a video, even to a large group of employees, they stop and pay attention. What you are showing them doesn't have to be especially colorful or entertaining; it will still likely capture their attention while informing them.
People also learn in a variety of ways, so video is a wonderful compliment to other communication channels. Most people can be categorized as either Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic learners. Showing a video allows you to engage better with Auditory and Visual learners, who might not have the same understanding and comprehension after reading an explanation of benefits or sitting in with a benefits enroller. Video can also improve understanding with people who have short attention spans and limited time, as videos can be quick and to the point.
Changes to benefit plans are inevitable, and when changes take plan, they need to be conveyed to your employees. While you could send out a newsletter or an email, there is no guarantee people will read the entire piece, no matter how important it is.
Creating an engaging video allows you to quickly explain any changes and how they affect your employees. May video players these days will also tell you if a video has been watched in its entirety, and by whom (many will also tell you precisely where viewership drops off). With video, you can make a personal connection with each employee, and allow them to go back and review the information again and again. One construction company, for instance, told SHRM that they recorded a webinar presentation about their changing benefits offerings which was viewed over 300 times - and the company only has 130 employees.
Especially with the rise of high-deductible plans, employees now more than ever need to be fully informed of how their benefits actually work. Distributing large amounts of information in written form can be overwhelming to employees, who may find it difficult to pick out the aspects of the plans that are most relevant to them. As the SHRM article notes, this can result in more work for your HR department, who will field extra calls and emails from workers trying to understand their benefits.
Benefits can get complicated, especially if employees aren't familiar with the terms. With a video, you can explain changes in a thorough manner, without worrying about interruptions or accidentally leaving out information, in a way that is also very accessible to employees.
One of the most common problems faced by companies implementing change is misunderstanding. What starts off as a simple proposal at a board meeting to alter the structure of company healthcare plans can turn into an evil plot to cull benefits entirely by the end of the day, as employees pass word around the office and share emails and phone calls. This example of the “telephone game” can be especially harmful for company morale. Not only that, consistent, effective benefits communication is crucial for compliance with regulations around employee benefits.
If there is a video available that employees can play back to check information, there is far less risk of misunderstanding. Everything will be laid out clearly, so that no one exaggerates or accidently passes on misinformation. This is vital for implementing change in a way that doesn’t cause any ripples or disruptions in the flow of a company.
An additional benefit of video is its easy shareability with partners and spouses who also have a stake in benefits decisions. These family members will be able to review the options in an easily digestible manner, without the risk of incomplete or inaccurate information that might otherwise come home from the office.
Any time you make a change to your company, it costs money. Even if the changes you are making will save you money over time, there are costs involved in any transition, not least of which is lost time when things need to be explained over and over. One of the biggest benefits of using video to explain changes is its low production and distribution costs. For example, your human resources representative could sit down in front of her laptop camera, explain the change, and then attach it to a company-wide email. This reduces your overall costs while conveying the message that you want.
Video is a great way to boost engagement in the office and ensure employees are fully informed of their benefits options and changes to their plans. To learn more ways to prepare for a benefit change or boost your employee engagement, please contact us today.