How HR Leaders Can Drive Utilization, Satisfaction, and ROI
Employee benefits are one of the largest investments employers make, often accounting for nearly 30% of total compensation costs (source). Despite this, their value is frequently undercut by low utilization and employee disengagement. Many HR leaders know the frustration: benefits are offered, but employees either don’t use them, don’t see the relevance, or don’t even know they exist.
A 2024 report highlights that 73% of employees want more education on their employer benefits (source), with as high as 25% feeling they’re “a little” to “not at all” informed about benefits at their company. For many, this lack of knowledge or understanding stems from ineffective communication—an over-reliance on generic emails or cluttered benefits portals and files. Even employees who understand the offerings often face another hurdle: a lack of personalization. One-size-fits-all packages fail to address diverse needs, leaving employees feeling overlooked. Meanwhile, cumbersome enrollment processes further discourage engagement, creating a perfect storm of inefficiency.
From the employer’s perspective, the challenges are just as significant. Rising costs - including an estimated 5.8% increase just in health benefit costs in 2025 - strain budgets (source). Yet, with utilization rates lagging, it can be difficult to demonstrate ROI. Add to this the burden of managing and vetting multiple benefit vendors, answering employee questions about those vendors, and navigating compliance requirements, and it’s easy to see why many HR teams experience "vendor fatigue."
The solution can’t simply be more benefits, even if that didn’t entail an administrative nightmare and a cost increase; it calls for better benefits engagement. Tailored communication can make a measurable difference. For example, sending targeted reminders about tuition reimbursement to employees who’ve expressed interest in continuing education, or promoting mental health resources during high-stress times of the year, can significantly boost awareness and relevance.
Personalization goes beyond communication. Offering flexible benefit budgets—where employees can allocate funds to what matters most to them—ensures greater alignment with individual needs. Imagine one employee using their budget for caregiving services while another opts for a gym membership. This freedom not only increases satisfaction but also empowers employees to make choices that fit their lives.
Another critical lever is simplifying the benefits experience. Many employees are deterred by complex processes or out-of-pocket expenses. Virtual corporate cards linked to pre-paid benefit budgets eliminate this friction, enabling employees to pay for services directly. This seamless approach reduces administrative burdens for HR teams while enhancing the user experience for employees.
Technology plays an integral role in modern benefits engagement. AI-driven platforms, for instance, can provide personalized answers to employee questions, such as “What does my health plan cover?” or “How many vacation days do I have left?” These tools go beyond static benefits portals, offering real-time, context-specific guidance. Additionally, automated enrollment systems and data-driven insights can help employers refine their offerings, ensuring they’re meeting actual employee needs.
The impact of improved benefits engagement extends far beyond individual employee satisfaction. A recent report shows that 81% of employees are more likely to stay with their employer due to their benefits (source). Additionally, employees who are satisfied with their benefits are 1.6X more likely to be productive and 1.5X more likely to be engaged (source).
At Fijoya, we address these challenges head-on. Our platform simplifies benefits for employees while optimizing them for employers. With AI-driven personalization, we help employees discover relevant benefits, get their questions answered in real-time, and easily enroll or pay for services. For HR teams, Fijoya reduces administrative burdens and offloads vendor management by offering benefit budgets that can be spent on thousands of solutions, yielding a higher breadth of options for employees without the budget increase or admin hassle. We drive engagement deeper by improving benefits communication, and providing actionable insights into benefits usage and preferences. By bridging the gap between offering and engagement, we ensure that benefits deliver value to everyone involved.
By embracing personalization, simplicity, and technology, employers can transform their benefits programs into a competitive advantage. In today’s landscape, it’s not just about offering benefits—it’s about ensuring those benefits are understood, accessible, and impactful.
Fijoya is redefining how employees connect with their benefits and employers maximize their investment. Our platform combines AI-driven benefits personalization, seamless access, answering any benefits-related question, and hassle-free payment options to ensure employees easily discover, understand, and utilize their benefits. For HR leaders, Fijoya transforms benefits programs into powerful tools for retention, satisfaction, and measurable ROI, ensuring every offering delivers maximum impact. If you want to conitinue the conversation with Fijoya, reach out to us here!
