The Difference Between Knowledge and Fear: Preparing ... · The Difference Between Knowledge and Fear: Preparing Participants for Bad News Ellen T. Anreder President and Chief Executive

The opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker. The International Foundationdisclaims responsibility for views expressed and statements made by the program speakers.

The Difference Between Knowledge and Fear:Preparing Participants for Bad News

Ellen T. AnrederPresident and Chief Executive OfficerBleiweiss Communications Incorporated (BCI)Calabasas, California

Wendell W. Young IVPresidentUnited Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania

G12-1

Cheers

G12-2

Compassion is Crucial . . . But Usually Not Enough

G12-3

Guidelines for Hard Times

1. Prepare your participants and staff

G12-4

Guidelines for Hard Times

2. Time your communications

G12-5

Guidelines for Hard Times

3. Guide your participants

G12-6

Prepare Your Audience

• Help them understand they are lucky to have a plan.

• Help them understand thedangers undermining all pensions and health plans.

G12-7

Prepare Your Audience

• 401Ks replacing defined-benefit pensions

• Aging of population• ERISA and PPA• Efforts to shore up PBGC• Reform efforts

– CORPaTH International Pension Alliance

Pension Fund Crisis

G12-8

Prepare Your Audience

• ACA and unfair treatment of multi-employer funds

• Skyrocketing medical costs• Aging of population• Decline of private-sector unions• Uninsured population still exists after ACA

(was 44 million, now 29 million)

Health Care Crisis

G12-9

Prepare Your Audience

• When participants are informed and educated, they are more likely to accept change and cooperate.

• Participants also will be better prepared psychologically when and if disaster strikes.

G12-10

Time Your Communications

Use the many arrows in your quiver.

G12-11

Time Your Communications

Meetings/Information Fairs

Pros: Best possible way to command attention of the participants who attend; provides opportunities for in-depth education.

Cons: Difficult and costly to arrange, especially for plans in large regions.

G12-12

Time Your Communications

Magazines and Newsletters

Pros: Great for explaining complex subjects; durable resource for reference.

Cons: Longer lead time, more expensive than other media.

G12-13

Time Your Communications

Websites

Pros: Great resource for reference; can be updated quickly.

Cons: People rarely read beyond the home page.

G12-14

Time Your Communications

Social Media

Pros: Excellent for quick dissemination of news and calls to action.

Cons: Not good for comprehensive information; messages disappear quickly.

G12-15

Time Your Communications

Email

Pros: Excellent for quick dissemination of news and calls to action; attachments can provide more comprehensive information that can be printed out.

Cons: Relatively few readers will open.

G12-16

Time Your Communications

Phone Messages/Voicemail

Pros: Quick and attention-grabbing.

Cons: Only the most blunt messages get through.

G12-17

Guide Your Participants

Real Examples From the Trenches

G12-18

Session #G12 The Difference Between Knowledge and Fear: Preparing Participants for Bad News

• Prepare your audience• Time your communications• Guide your participants

Website Resourceshttps://www.ifebp.org/inforequest/ifebp/0165819.pdf

62nd Annual Employee Benefits ConferenceNovember 13-16, 2016Orlando, Florida

G12-19

2017 Educational ProgramsGeneral Topics

63rd Annual Employee Benefits Conference October 22-25, 2017 Las Vegas, Nevadawww.ifebp.org/usannual

Trustees and Administrators InstitutesFebruary 20-22, 2017 Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), FloridaJune 26-28, 2017 San Diego, Californiawww.ifebp.org/trusteesadministrators

Fraud Prevention Institute for Employee Benefit PlansJuly 17-18, 2017Chicago, Illinoiswww.ifebp.org/fraudprevention

Construction Industry Benefits ConferenceNovember 13-14, 2017 Santa Monica, Californiawww.ifebp.org/construction

Collection Procedures InstituteNovember 15-16, 2017 Santa Monica, Californiawww.ifebp.org/collections

Related ReadingVisit one of the on-site Bookstore locations or see www.ifebp.org/bookstore for more books.

Employee Benefits Glossary, 13th EditionItem #7570www.ifebp.org/glossary

816

NEW!

G12-20