Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “handle benefits enrollments and carrier changes”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

45 min
typically, once a week
55%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Turn on automatic carrier feeds for benefits changes

Benefits admin tools send enrollments and changes to insurance carriers electronically, so you stop filling in carrier forms by hand.

Typically saves about 45% of the time4 h to set up
  1. 1Ask your broker which carriers support electronic (EDI) feeds from your HRIS or benefits platform.
  2. 2Set them up in Rippling, Gusto, Employee Navigator, Ease, bswift or your HRIS.
  3. 3Let employees make qualifying-event changes themselves through the portal.
  4. 4Reconcile carrier invoices against the HRIS monthly.

Tools: Rippling · Gusto · Employee Navigator · Ease · bswift

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Turn on self-service for time off, balances and personal details

Employees request time off, see balances, update addresses and download documents themselves, with manager approval built in.

Typically saves about 50% of the time1 h to set up
  1. 1Turn on the employee app or portal in your HRIS (BambooHR, Rippling, Gusto, Workday, HiBob, Paylocity).
  2. 2Set up time-off policies and approval routing to managers.
  3. 3Send a one-page "how to" with the top five requests.
  4. 4Reply to requests by email with the link until people get used to it.

Tools: BambooHR · Rippling · Gusto · Workday · HiBob · Paylocity

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

HR generalistPeople ops / HRIS specialist

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

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Other common tasks for HR generalists