Four Qualities to Look for When Hiring an Employee Benefits Manager

An employee benefits manager is critical to any company’s HR team. They are responsible for helping employees understand what they are eligible to receive, and they ensure the company follows all applicable benefits laws. Because of the importance of this position, it is essential to ensure you are hiring the right person for the job.

When you are looking to hire an employee benefits manager, you will want to ensure they have the right personality traits, work ethic, and experience. When considering an employee benefits manager, looking for someone with a strong sense of empathy and compassion is essential. They should relate to the employees they work with and understand their needs.

What to Look for in an Employee Benefits Manager

Hiring an employee benefits manager is one of the most important tasks a company can take on. The person you hire will be able to help you create and maintain a plan that increases your bottom line, while also ensuring your employees are happy and healthy.

Whether you are looking to hire an employee benefits manager or want to find ways to improve your team’s work, there are some key qualities every benefit manager should have. Below, you will learn four employee benefits manager skills that make an excellent manager.

Knowledge and Experience

The first quality you should look for when hiring an employee benefits manager is knowledge and experience. The ideal candidate has experience in the employee benefits industry and can administer company employee benefits programs to meet specific needs like group captive insurance.

They should also be familiar with tax laws concerning employer-sponsored health insurance plans, retirement plans, and other benefit programs. Finally, they must understand current laws and regulations surrounding those benefits (including COBRA).

If you are unsure if your current benefits manager is up to the task, ask them a few questions. Inquire how they would handle hypothetical situations that may arise in the future. If they do not have an answer or cannot explain why one option is better than another, it might be time for a change.

A “Can-Do” Attitude

A positive, optimistic outlook is a must. Specifically, they need to understand they cannot control everything, yet be able to problem-solve in the face of adversity. It is also vital for employee benefits managers to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past.

An excellent example is when employee benefits specialists encounter an issue with their software program. Instead of panicking, they should see it as an opportunity for improvement and learn from it to help others avoid making similar mistakes later down the line.

Employee benefits managers should also communicate well with others. They should explain technical concepts in a way that is easy to understand and listen carefully when someone else is speaking.

The Ability to Manage Change

You may not be able to control change, but you can certainly manage it. And the best way to manage change is by hiring someone who can adapt, cope with, and deal with changes.

Professional benefits administrators understand constant adaptation is necessary for survival in today’s world of rapid technological advances, fluctuating markets, and shifting demographics. They are flexible and resilient.

Healthcare is constantly changing, so it is essential to find someone who is up-to-date and knows how to navigate the industry. They should understand different insurance plans and know what each one covers.

As the economy fluctuates, so will health care plans, insurance rates, and other benefits. An employee benefits manager must be flexible enough to adapt to changes and ensure employees get what they need.

Strong Interpersonal Skills

When looking for a new employee benefits manager, you want to ensure they have strong interpersonal skills. They should communicate clearly and appropriately with their clients, employees, and managers.

Moreover, they should work well in a team environment by building relationships with others and understanding how people think and act differently. Finally, an employee benefits manager with strong interpersonal skills can often empathize with coworkers’ challenges regularly.

While your employee benefits manager should have strong interpersonal skills, they also need a solid understanding of the industry in which you operate. They should help you identify areas where your company may be missing out on critical employee benefits—and then work with them to determine what changes to make.

Conclusion

Many qualities make a good employee benefits manager. The most important is the ability to work with people and manage change. With so much going on in this field today, it is essential to have someone who can adapt quickly and react when things go wrong. If you need an employee benefits manager, look for these traits in your potential candidates before making any decisions about hiring them.

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Leap | Carpenter | Kemps Insurance Can Help You Meet Your Employee Benefit Needs

Employee Benefits packages can serve as one of your most valuable recruitment and retention tools. It is vital to ensure your benefits package is competitive and provides your employees with the security they need to be happy.

Employee Benefits at LCK Insurance are designed to help your employees relax in a financial emergency. Benefits include disability insurance, life insurance, health savings account, dental insurance, and vision insurance, to name a few.

Contact us today to discover more about Employee Benefits for your business.