In a time when most everything requires virtual or socially distanced settings, employer-hosted events like benefits fairs look much different than usual. But many employers, despite having the technology to take their events entirely online, struggle to keep their employees engaged in the virtual environment. To help employers build and maintain strong connections with their people, Alight Solutions, a leading cloud-based provider of integrated digital human capital and business solutions, has launched Virtual Employee Events, a digital engagement platform that makes it easier to support employees and their families and drive better decision-making throughout the year.
Virtual Employee Events simulates what benefits fairs and other employee events would look like in-person, but with even more personalization. Through digital spaces like lobbies and exhibit halls, the platform delivers tailored content and targeted communications to employees, and also provides opportunities to connect directly with HR representatives, benefits providers and counselors who can guide them through the selection of health, retirement and supplemental benefits.
“The pandemic derailed in-person benefit fairs, which long served as the primary engagement and communication vehicle for employers to reach their employees and educate them about benefit options,” said Colin Brennan, chief product strategy & services officer at Alight. “In a year that challenged everyone’s health and wellbeing, and without a clear way to engage employees, those benefits programs can go underutilized and employees can feel frustrated, confused and underserved. Alight’s Virtual Employee Events platform is an effective way for organizations to accommodate the new workplace, while caring for the engagement and education needs of employees wherever they are and whenever it’s convenient for them.”
In addition to benefits fairs, Alight’s platform has seen increased use for virtual inclusion and diversity summits over the past year. Alight can deliver virtual experiences to meet every employer need, including:
- Communication around significant milestones
- New-hire onboarding
- Workforce training
- Wellbeing events
- Sales rallies
Alight clients have already begun to realize the value of Virtual Employee Events and the combination of live and on-demand formats that are readily available to those working remotely or outside of a 9-to-5 schedule or are otherwise hard to reach.
“Our virtual benefits fair provided a unique opportunity to effectively reach our people at a time when they are paying closer attention to their benefits options, and the platform allowed us to have more consistent and targeted messaging to employees at their point of need,” said Jon Van Cleve, senior benefits manager at Delek US Holdings, Inc. “With this kind of immersive experience and enhanced support, our people were able to save time and effort while making the right benefits decisions for themselves and their families. We’re already considering and excited about the additional applications of this platform for on-demand and year-round employee programming.”
More information on Virtual Employee Events is available on alight.com.