Maximizing Your Workday® Open Enrollment: A Comprehensive Guide for Benefits Professionals

As the Open Enrollment (OE) period approaches, it's tempting to celebrate with your HRIS and Benefits team. However, there's still a lot of work to ensure your employees can access all the wonderful benefits they've just signed up for. This blog post will guide you through the essential steps to make your Workday Open Enrollment process smooth and efficient.

1. Communicate with Benefit Providers

First and foremost, establish clear communication with each of your benefit providers. It's crucial to understand when they need enrollment files from Workday and when these files should be sent on a regular schedule going forward. This step ensures that all parties are on the same page and helps prevent any delays or misunderstandings.

2. Verify Enrollment Data

Once the enrollment files are processed, it's time to verify the data. Check the provider's portal against Workday to ensure your enrollment totals match. This step is vital to avoid any discrepancies that could affect your employees' benefits. Regularly updating and cross-referencing this information will save you from potential headaches down the line.

3. Maintain a Detailed Tracker

Keeping track of all your benefit providers in a spreadsheet or project tracker is essential. Update this tracker annually to reflect any changes or new providers. This organized approach helps your Benefits team and HRIS team collaborate effectively as major deadlines approach. A well-maintained tracker ensures that no critical tasks are overlooked.

4. Collaborate with Your Teams

Successful Open Enrollment requires close collaboration between your Benefits team and HRIS team. Regular meetings and updates will help both teams stay aligned and address any issues promptly. This teamwork is crucial for meeting deadlines and ensuring a seamless enrollment process for your employees.

5. Test with the Payroll Team

Before finalizing everything, it's important to collaborate with your Payroll team in a test environment. This step ensures that all benefit premiums are properly accounted for on employee paychecks. Running these tests helps identify and resolve any discrepancies before they impact actual payroll, ensuring a smooth transition for your employees.

6. Follow Through on Benefit Elections

Getting everyone to make their benefit elections in Workday is just the first step. The follow-through is equally important. Ensure that your employees are well taken care of by verifying that their benefit elections are accurately reflected in all systems. This attention to detail demonstrates your commitment to providing excellent benefits and enhances employee satisfaction.

Conclusion

Open Enrollment is a critical time for Benefits professionals using Workday. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and efficient process that benefits both your employees and your organization. Remember, the key to success lies in clear communication, meticulous verification, organized tracking, effective collaboration, thorough testing, and diligent follow-through.

Don't overlook these essential steps, and you'll be well on your way to a successful Workday Open Enrollment period. Your employees will thank you for it!

Workday is a registered trademark of Workday, Inc. Nuveli, LLC and its employees are not endorsed by or certified by Workday, and we maintain no relationship with them. All representations above are based on personal and client experiences using the software tools of the same name.