May 3, 2017
Transitions Optical has released new research, reinforcing the benefits that employers could see by offering a comprehensive vision benefit to their workforce.
According to the 2017 Transitions Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, vision benefits are in demand—and offering vision coverage could set companies apart and help increase employee satisfaction. Ninety-eight percent of employees surveyed believe that including vision benefits as part of an overall health package shows that companies care about their employees’ well-being.
Additionally, the survey found that offering a high-quality vision benefit—including coverage of premium lens options, like Transitions lenses—can increase employee retention. Nearly nine out of 10 employees (87 percent) said they would be more likely to stay at a company that offered high quality vision benefits, such as coverage of premium lens and frame options. Millennial workers were the most likely to strongly agree with this statement, with nearly half saying they’d be more likely to stay at a company that offered premium vision coverage.
But while employees certainly value vision coverage, the survey found that offering this benefit to employees is not enough—uncovering a strong desire for employers, as well as vision plans, to provide proactive and ongoing education about vision benefits, including information on the latest eyewear options and lens technologies.
Increasing Enrollment in Vision Benefits
With ever-increasing visual demands, both at work and at home, more than eight-in-ten employees, who are offered vision benefits through their employer, are already choosing to enroll—a number in line with dental benefits and nearing general medical coverage. But while enrollment in vision benefits remains high, the survey identified several factors that can help employers to further increase enrollment.
Of the employees not previously enrolled in their company’s vision plan, nearly six in ten (59 percent) said they would be motivated to enroll if they thought that they could be experiencing better vision. Additionally, over half of employees (53 percent) said they would be more likely to enroll after learning that an eye exam can provide insights into their overall health. The survey also uncovered several additional factors impacting enrollment motivation: 58 percent said they would enroll if they thought they could save on overall medical costs; 44 percent would after learning about the importance of eye disease prevention; and 34 percent would if they thought they could be more productive at work.
The survey also found that employees are looking for better eyewear options from their vision plans—and they’re willing to pay higher premiums to get them. The vast majority (83 percent) said they would be more likely to enroll in—or keep using—a vision plan that fully covers options like Transitions lenses. Eight out of 10 employees said they would also be willing to pay extra per pay period if their plan fully covered products like Transitions lenses, with more than two-thirds of employees saying they would be willing to pay more than $3 extra per pay period.
A Desire for Ongoing Education
Providing education about premium lens options is critical in maintaining high vision benefit enrollment—and employees want this information from both their vision plans and directly from their employers. The survey revealed that nearly all employees (93 percent) believe that their vision plans should provide education about how certain lens options can protect their eyes, and 88 percent agreed that their vision plans should offer education on the health benefits provided by premium lens technologies.
Nearly all employees (95 percent) also said they want their employer to contact them proactively with information on lens technologies, new eyewear innovations and other topics related to eye health—with 58 percent saying they want to be contacted several times per year.
“Today’s employees want better vision coverage—and more frequent education that goes beyond the enrollment period. This is a trend we’re seeing across all generations, and particularly among Millennial employees, who are making up an increasing portion of the workforce,” says Drew Smith, director of North America channels, Transitions Optical. “As a strategy for retaining and recruiting top employees, companies should consider offering a vision plan that not only covers premium lens options, like Transitions lenses, but also backs this coverage up by providing information and resources on how the right eyewear can improve and protect eye health, while boosting productivity.”
With 83 percent of employees saying they go online to access resources provided by their vision plans, the survey also revealed a need for vision plans to ramp up their web sites with information about eye health and specific plan offerings. Beyond going online to better understand the basics of their vision benefits, one-third of employees (34 percent) said they turn to their vision plan’s web site to learn more about different lens technologies and frame options.
To help elevate the importance of eye exams and quality eyewear available through a vision benefit, Transitions Optical offers a variety of employee- and employer-focused tools and education. These resources can be accessed free-of-charge through the Transitions Healthy Sight Working for You public education program.
