Top 3 Technology Issues Employers Faced in 2020

Technology solutions dedicated to the employee benefit and human resources (HR) business continue to be depended upon by more companies, and 2020 was the year that they were put to the ultimate test due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers of all sizes leveraged their technology solutions more than ever to communicate with employees, ensure their safety, and to remain compliant with ever-changing legislation. Below are the top three challenges we noticed employers faced:

Employee Engagement and Communication Challenges

Many organizations did not have a solid employee communication or engagement strategy in place when the pandemic first struck and struggled to effectively convey updates to their employee population and keep their workforce connected, particularly as they became remote. The more fortunate businesses quickly identified their existing HR technology had mass texting, email, and broadcasting capabilities and leveraged these resources, while others looked to implement new technology such as collaboration software, remote work tools, and video communication tools.

Lack of a Benefits Administration or HR System

Organizations who operate in a paper environment (or with an inefficient technology system) were challenged to handle furloughs and layoffs, track employee benefits data, manage employee scheduling and time-tracking, communicate with their employees, and ensure compliance with COBRA, ACA, and emerging legislation. There is more urgency than ever for employers of all sizes to have a centralized place for employees to manage their benefits and HR needs. As employers continue to broaden their benefits offering and manage and engage a distributed workforce, the need for strong technology only intensifies.

Talent Management Practices Tested

While the changing labor market has been driving an increased demand for robust talent management practices and related software for years, the pandemic only magnified the need. Focusing on recruiting, employee development, employee performance, and related activities, talent management practices are a cornerstone of recruiting and retention strategies. Organizations that were prepared before the pandemic with solid talent management solutions were able to quickly shift and make well-informed decisions during the crisis. Those without are likely prioritizing this initiative in 2021.

Many employers who felt the pain of inefficient or insufficient HR and benefits technology in 2020 were hard pressed to address it at the time, often due to budget constraints and focusing on more critical and urgent workforce needs. While the pandemic certainly isn’t over, most employers have stabilized and are now able to focus on evaluating their overall HR technology strategy (or creating one). By allowing technology to automate manual processes, empower employees, and streamline the HR function, employers can focus on strategic business outcomes and their employees’ total wellbeing.

Dan Gowen
SVP, Employee Benefits Practice Leader
Assurex Global

Jenny Bedeaux
VP, Employee Benefits Practice
Assurex Global