Benefits season has arrived, and knowing common offerings, terms, and resources for choosing the best options for your situation is key. Use this benefits toolbox to help determine the options to elect.
Decode Workplace Health Benefits
Breakdown common health benefits terminology to understand coverage options. Benefits vary across companies, and some may be secured elsewhere if not offered by your employer.
Your employer may offer a benefits guide, dedicated personnel, or other resources to ask questions or learn more about benefits offerings. For more information, reach out to your HR department or representative, or the insurance company.
Know Your Status: Benefits Vary by Employment Type
Not all employees are eligible to receive employer-sponsored benefits. Full-time, W-2 (U.S.), or T4 (Canada) employees are typically eligible. Part-time workers may be eligible at an employer’s discretion. Contract workers, 1099 independent contractors (U.S.), or T4A contractors (Canada) are generally ineligible for employer-sponsored benefits, but coverage may be secured elsewhere.
Confirm your employment type to ensure you have access to the benefits you need:
Personalize Your Perks
Benefits are becoming more personalized. As companies expand benefits offerings, research the options thoroughly to take advantage of the most meaningful benefits for you. Personalized benefits can include, but aren’t limited to:
- Health and wellness
- Professional development
- Lifestyle perks
Retirement-Ready
It’s never too early to prepare for retirement. Employers may contribute to your retirement account, which is an important consideration when looking at your total compensation and benefits package. Educate yourself on retirement account options and how these accounts typically function with employer contributions.
Choose the Best Benefits
To make the most of the benefits available to you, start by identifying your needs, then see how your company’s offerings can meet them. If benefits offerings are unclear, check with your HR department or representative for a better understanding. HR can’t tell you which benefits to select, but they can inform you of what each option includes.
There’s usually a deadline to enroll in benefits, but don’t wait until the last minute to make your selections. Review the options early so you have time to research, ask questions, and weigh all the options.
If you find your employer doesn’t offer the benefits you need, consider starting a job search to find a company that’s a better match.
About Express Employment Professionals
As a W-2 and T4 staffing agency, Express Employment Professionals’ employment experts are available to prepare you for the job and support you while you’re on assignment. Our associates on assignment enjoy all the benefits and security of being employed directly by an organization.
As a leading staffing company, Express placed 427,000 associates globally in 2024 and more than 11 million in our more than 40 years of business. If you’re interested in applying for a job through Express or working with a team of staffing experts in your industry, find the Express location nearest you or visit ExpressPros.com to learn more.
