Whether or not to implement HRIS in the organizational landscape has become a challenging question for today’s employers to answer. This is pretty much because some think that this is just a fad while others believe that it is here to stay. If you too are not sure of whether or not to jump on this bandwagon, then continue reading to find out how integrating HRIS can help streamline benefits. However, before we get started let us first give you an overview of what exactly HRIS is?
HRIS—what is it?
HRIS is the abbreviation for Human Resource Information System which is also referred to as Human Resource Management System. HRIS allows or facilitates HR activities as well as processes to occur smoothly and electronically. The software program takes care of a number of activities for small and mid-sized businesses by automating and managing HR, management, payroll and even accounting activities. With this system in place, you can plan more effectively, control better and manage HR costs while making good decision needed to improve overall employees and managerial performance, productivity and efficiency.
Now let’s take a look at how HRIS can streamline benefits…
HRIS for Streamlining Benefits
Benefits administration is a vital and essential element of an HRIS system and perhaps a good reason for purchasing and integrating HRIS into your business landscape as it can save time and cost. Typically, benefits administration is the responsibility of the HR department. It involves functions like creating, managing and also updating employee benefits programs for maximum employee engagement and satisfaction. However, this is easier said than done as this task is very labor intensive.
If an HRIS system deployed with benefits administration functionality is integrated into your organization, it will allow your HR & benefits professionals to quickly automate the complex, time consuming process of benefits enrollment and administration. Simply put, automation can:
- Eliminate the burden of these cumbersome tasks
- Empower employees to make their own benefit selections
- Help achieve optimal ROEI (Return on Employee Investment)
Let’s dig deeper for better understanding:
§ Customize Benefits Administration
HRIS offers employers the power of customization. This means that you can set up rules for benefits open-enrollment and management such as setting up auto-enroll, benefits tiers and tax percentages. Also, benefits and permissions can be changed and customized according to the job code so that employees can only view what they are eligible for.
§ Open Enrollment
HRIS moves benefits open enrollment online and streamlines it by saving countless hours of work, postage fees, paperwork and filing. It gives employees the ability to quickly make benefits elections via the internet.
§ Employee Self Service & Benefits
With HRIS employees can also manage their own life-event changes that may impact their benefits. By linking employee self service portals to benefits through HRIS, employees can access their information directly instead of reaching out to a HR professional first.
They can also learn about their insurance plans, pension plans and 401(k) plans, and can easily make changes to their information as the changes occur. For example marriage or child birth are qualifying life events, if these occur, employees can quickly make the change through the HRIS self service portal which will filter into the benefits administration module and then immediately open up new insurance options for employees.
§ Streamlining Benefits Audit Process through Reporting
HRIS also offers customizable benefits reporting service which helps in streamlining and managing benefits audit process. So, whether you want to quickly run a report to check the exact amount of benefits changes that have been made during a given payroll period or you want to audit a medical insurance bill on a monthly basis to be sure that you’re not double charged, benefits reporting will be a great help.
For more information on HRIS benefits administration or system integration, call JS Benefits Group on 877-355-6070.
