Episode 26: The state of public sector employee benefits

The ongoing pandemic has left a huge impact on the public sector, from budget cuts to complex operational needs in state, local and municipality governments, public agencies and schools. Employee benefits has become a critical retention strategy, but also an added challenge. We talk to two benefits experts with vast experience in the public sector: Donna Nixon, Vice President of Pierce Group Benefits, and Steven Vermette, Vice President at Colonial Life, about the trends and best practices they’re seeing in public sector employee benefits.  

• Employee benefits is key to public sector’s competition for talent: Employee benefits are vital to a recruitment and retention strategy, as public sector employers compete against private sector jobs amid a wave of Baby Boomer generation retirements. [03.45]
• Time to catch up: Public sector employers have been slower to adopt the hardware and software that other industries have utilized – that offered a way to quickly pivot to remote or virtual work. However, public entities are now putting a lot of time and effort to implement and utilize this technology. [05:32]
• Going digital for virtual enrollment: The pandemic has been a rapid accelerant for the public sector to shift to virtual enrollments of benefits, including moving from paper-based methods to digital methods. [07:08]
• Importance of benefits education: Now more than ever, employees are paying attention to the benefits coverage they have and the coverage they need. Take the time to allow employees to understand what they’re being offered. This will cause employees to be better protected and more fully appreciate what your organization is doing for them. [09:18]
• Additional public sector resources: SHRM webinar on Public Sector Benefits, Governing, International Public Managers Association for Human Resources, Center for State and Local Government Excellence, and Colonial Life’s Public Sector Virtual Enrollment Guide.