Open Enrollment (OE) season is here, and HR teams everywhere are juggling the same challenge: keeping employees informed, engaged, and on time — all while handling a steady stream of questions. 

By now, you’ve sent reminders, hosted webinars, and crossed your fingers that everyone will log in before the deadline. But even the best-prepared teams know that participation can lag in the final stretch — not because employees don’t care, but because life gets busy and benefits can feel complicated. 

So how do you keep engagement high without adding another spinning plate to your routine? It comes down to visibility, clarity, and smart communication. 

Know Who’s In — and Who’s Not Yet 

Open Enrollment isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. The key to driving participation is knowing where things stand in real time. 

Use your technology platforms (like Selerix Engage or BenSelect) to track enrollment progress, identify who’s completed their elections, and see who still needs a nudge. Instead of blanket reminders, target messages to the employees who need them most. 

Think of it like a pit crew checking the dashboard — data helps you make quick adjustments before anything stalls. The earlier you spot gaps, the smoother your finish. 

Pro tip: Check completion reports daily and focus outreach on departments with low participation rates. Precision beats volume every time. 

Communicate Early, Often, and Everywhere 

You can’t over-communicate during Open Enrollment — but you can overwhelm. The sweet spot is concise, consistent messaging that meets employees where they are. 

Use multiple channels (email, SMS, intranet posts, or even short videos) to repeat your core messages with small variations: 

• Early-week: Educational reminders (“Here’s how to compare plans”) 
• Mid-week: Motivation (“Enroll now to avoid the rush”) 
• End-of-week: Countdown urgency (“Only 3 days left!”) 

And don’t forget tone. Replace technical language with benefit-focused phrasing. Instead of, “Please complete your enrollment in the HRIS platform,” try, “Take 10 minutes to secure next year’s coverage and peace of mind.” 

When messages sound human, employees respond like humans — not like checkbox items on a list. 

Turn FAQs Into Fuel for Engagement 

If you want fewer questions in your inbox, make answers easier to find. FAQs aren’t just a support tool — they’re an engagement engine. 

Start by identifying the top five questions your team fields every year. (Spoiler: They’re probably the same ones again this season.) Build a quick, living FAQ that you can update as new questions pop up. Post it in multiple places: the intranet, enrollment portal, and even as a link in your reminder emails. 

Better yet, turn the answers into mini learning moments: 

• Short video clips that answer a single question. 
• Carousel graphics that bust common myths. 
• “Did You Know?” blurbs in your weekly emails. 

The faster employees can self-serve, the more confident they’ll feel — and the fewer one-off tickets your HR inbox will see. 

Make Help Accessible in Real Time 

When employees hit a snag, they need help now, not tomorrow. A responsive support structure can make or break participation rates. 

Consider setting up a simple “command center” during OE week: 

• A dedicated Zoom or Teams “Help Room” that’s open a few hours a day. 
• A group chat monitored by HR or vendor reps. 
• Quick escalation paths for technical issues. 

Think of it as your OE pit stop — fast, efficient, and built for quick fixes. Employees who know exactly where to turn for help are more likely to complete enrollment confidently and on time. 

Measure, Learn, Adjust — Mid-Season 

Don’t wait until OE wraps up to see what worked. Send a short pulse survey halfway through enrollment to check in: 

• Are employees finding what they need? 
• Is the process clear and simple? 
• Do they know where to go for help? 

If you spot patterns — like confusion about one specific benefit — address it with a clarifying message right away. A few small mid-season tweaks can make the difference between a smooth close and a stressful scramble. 

A Little Extra Spark Never Hurts 

If your communications are solid but participation still feels sluggish, sometimes a little extra helps. That’s where creativity comes in — a friendly competition, a visual reminder, or a small incentive can go a long way. 

Our Engagement Booster Pack includes ready-to-use templates, visual reminders, and quick-win ideas (like mirror decals and coffee-sleeve messages) to help HR teams re-energize enrollment without reinventing the wheel. 

It’s everything you need to give your OE communications that final push — and maybe even have a little fun doing it. 

Download the Engagement Booster Pack 
(Plug-and-play ideas to help you finish OE strong.) 

Finish Strong 

Open Enrollment doesn’t have to end in a sprint. With real-time insight, clear communication, and proactive support, you can guide employees to confident decisions — and close the season knowing everyone got what they needed. 

And if you’d like a partner to help streamline communication or track engagement automatically, the Selerix team is here for you. 

Talk to a Selerix Expert Today 

Because when HR runs smoothly, everyone benefits.