In an ever-changing work environment, “soft skills” are increasingly becoming must-haves in the workplace. Flexibility, adaptability, good communication, problemsolving and teamwork, along with the necessary technical skills and work experience, are the new status quo.
From an employer’s perspective, it makes sense. If you think about it, coaching in these skills actually starts much earlier than the working years. From their very first social interactions, we teach our children that sharing and teamwork are the core of all relationships. Working together isn’t optional; it’s something they have no choice but to learn how to do.
So why is it optional in the world of employee benefits?
In articles I’ve read and events I’ve attended, there’s a recurring theme. Many employers are looking for a holistic view of their employee benefits offerings—drugs, dental, disability, wellness and other programs—so they can manage their overall benefits spend more effectively. And it’s not just a cost-cutting exercise: in many cases, they’re willing to reinvest savings into the programs where they see the most value.
The problem is, they can’t get the full picture. Providers are too siloed. There are too many different data sources. The information employers receive isn’t integrated, and no one’s bringing it all together to interpret it for them.
And opportunities for collaboration aren’t limited to the private payer market, either. For example, we recently ran an article on BenefitsCanada.com about the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP)—a health and welfare trust serving more than 54,000 employees—which is pushing the boundaries of healthcare in Canada by engaging key stakeholders at the provincial level on benefits plan cost and design issues.
As Jennifer Carson, the ASEBP’s CEO, explains it: “We discovered a number of quality health partners in Alberta with whom we can collaborate. The breadth of existing initiatives, which are often not connected, has caused us to modify our approach to partnerships in support of the health of our covered members. We believe that if all of our partners and suppliers can work closely together to improve the health outcomes of covered members, we will all be more successful.”
Creating a truly collaborative environment won’t be easy. It’s going to take time, commitment, enhanced technology and a genuine collegial spirit. But it’s the way of the future: stakeholders in the employee benefits industry will have to work better together. It’s what employers are asking for now—and what they’ll be demanding moving forward.
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