Develop a series of print and online educational materials to inform 300,000 members about their retirement plan benefits.

Materials needed to be focused by life stage, and easily adaptable to meet the individual needs of members.

Create additional topical brochures specific to particular subjects and issues.

Developed a "communications portfolio" that included base brochures for new members, vested members, members nearing retirement, and members retiring.

Created topical brochures covering subjects such as death benefits, disability benefits, options when leaving covered employment, QDROs, and military service. Designed to fit into the back pocket of the base brochures to enable client to customize the information based on the member's individual needs.

All materials accessible via client's Web site. Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—retirement plan members and employers who advise IPERS are positive and the demand for the information is strong.

See a Sample Full Size Brochure (reproduced with permission)

Even with a generous company match, the client's 401(k) plan had a lower-than-average participation level, especially for non-highly compensated employees.

The target population (non-highly compensated employees who were non-contributors or contributing below the company match) had a 25% participation rate.

Client's goal: Increase overall participation and the average contribution percentage.

18% of the targeted population took action, either by increasing their contributions or enrolling in the plan.

16% (three times the client's goal!) of the targeted population joined for the first time.

See the Match Bucks Lottery Card

Inform, intrigue and educate participants about a new Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and how the PPO would change the way they access health care.

Communicate changes so that participants would appreciate plan improvements and access care differently.

6,000 (20%) of the 30,000 eligible employees who went online for more information selected a personal care physician.

See the Admit One Postcard

Introduce and promote Medicare HMOs to 5,000 retirees and help them make informed decisions.

18% of retirees switched to a Medicare HMO, resulting in a $1.2 million per year savings to the client.

See the Don't Miss the Boat Postcard

Introduce a new benefits program that included cost sharing for the first time in company history.

Educate employees on how to enroll during their first-ever open enrollment period via a paperless, online employee self-service system.

Make the transition easy; empower employees to make informed decisions, while reinforcing the message that HR was there for both support and as an information resource.

Develop a communications strategy and implementation plan that included an HR Web site, an open enrollment campaign, and a new HR brand/logo.

Newly branded fully functional Web page, using Flash technology, housed all open enrollment material. New brand also adapted to open enrollment collateral—e.g., invitations to learning presentations, calendar of events, newsletter, enrollment guide, benefits overview brochure, and letter from VP of HR. Also modified a variety of current printed communications to reflect the new brand.

Client raved about how smoothly the introduction of cost sharing and open enrollment went. Employees complimented HR on how well the transition was managed, on the quality of the materials ("great" look and “easy-to-understand”), and how they felt HR went the extra mile to ensure they felt comfortable enrolling in their new program.

See New Hire Guide

See Employee Benefits Guide

The client wanted to use its intranet as a tool to help launch a Web site introducing its new Innovator's Circle Award, and facilitate the nomination process for employees around the world.

The site was just launched to employees at the time of this writing, so we don't yet have statistics on site visits or award nominations submitted.

However, site was well-received by representative groups of employees in a series of focus groups; they indicated that it was both attractive and easy to navigate.

The client's Innovation Team, a group of key business leaders responsible for encouraging innovation at all levels of the company, also praised the site for its innovative approach, attractive look and feel, and useful navigation.

See screenshots of the Innovator's Circle Award Web Site