5 attributes you should expect from an HRMS benefits administration module

Today, we’re keeping things simple with the latest in a series of overview articles. This article takes a look at the attributes that should be on offer when you’re looking through the market for HRMS benefits administration software.

1. Ease of use

The whole purpose of this technology is to guide the employee through their benefits options, resulting in a choice (enrollment). In that sense, this is one of the more detailed/sophisticated employee self-service apps available... which means that a friendly user experience is absolutely essential.

An HRMS benefits administration system should guide individuals through the enrollment process step-by-step, and with such obvious and intuitive design that the danger of the employee ‘getting lost’ is minimized. As well as good page design, expect to see features such as, “anytime save & return” allowing the employee to walk away and later continue where he/she left off; on-screen help and user tips on each page; and ideally, no need for specialized user training.

Recommended Reading: HRMS Software Guide - Find an HRMS with benefits administration

2. For employees...

As for functionality, the above-mentioned intuitive design should allow the user to compare and select a variety of benefits plans; enroll in the plan of their choice; check and update their contribution levels online; monitor and review their benefits choices at any time (and ideally anywhere, including via a mobile device); update their personal data; electronically sign and store all the necessary paperwork.

3. For managers...

Any manager will of course be accessing their user features as an employee themselves, but manager/administrator access should also offer an extra tier of functionality, including monitoring the enrollment status of employees, checking the enrollment process deadlines; estimating the total benefits costs for current and future employees; and reporting on take-up, costs, plus legal compliance with legislation such as ACA and COBRA.

4. Flexible and customizable

Every organization is different and so are their benefits packages and options. An HRMS benefits administration module should include a high degree of flexibility, allowing you to customize offers, workflows and support based on employee eligibility for each plan. Similarly, employees should be able to make changes at any time, as and when their needs change in accordance with set life events.

5. Compliance

The software should not only be fully compliant with current legislation but also be automatically updated to keep pace with legislative changes at all levels. Effectively, the app should act as your ‘watchdog’ or legislative expert for the federal, state and city laws, any relevant union rules and the various regulations from the Department of Labor. Put simply, an HRMS benefits administration module should worry so you don’t so you don’t have to.