Year-Round Benefits Education Outperforms Open Enrollment Cramming

Research reveals gaps in benefits utilization tied to seasonal-only communication strategies.

HR Solution Journal News Desk

Editorial illustration: A painterly still-life of two cut tree trunk cross-sections displayed upright on a stone ledge against a dark mottled background, the larger left section showing dozens of tight uniform annual rings and the smaller right section showing fewer, unevenly spaced rings with a distinct lighter outer band.

AI-generated editorial illustration.

Two persistent obstacles are limiting employee benefits utilization, according to recent research. Twenty-one percent of HR executives cite insufficient guidance during open enrollment as the primary barrier, while 26% point to a complete lack of ongoing education outside the enrollment window. Robert Deshaies, Chief Operating Officer at WEX, attributes the problem partly to communication timing: when benefits information is compressed into a narrow window, high-value programs such as HSAs and student loan repayment assistance are frequently overlooked. Deshaies advises HR leaders to reach employees at moments when they have capacity to absorb information, rather than relying on a single annual push.

Source: HR Daily Advisor. Original announcement: October 05, 2026.