Launching and Communicating an Eyecare Voucher Scheme

As EyeHealth week draws to a close, we look at how to effectively launch and communicate an eyecare voucher scheme to staff.

Having gone through the motions to ensure an eyecare voucher scheme is right for your business, getting buy in from the board and investing in this new employee benefit, you don’t want to fall down at the last hurdle with a minimal launch effort.

If you are looking for maximum take up from staff, you first need to help them understand the importance of eye health and the benefit to them. Our experience has shown that innovative and creative ways of doing this have the biggest impact.

For example, organisations could look to host eyecare clinics or “lunch and learn” sessions to raise awareness, encourage take up and engage staff through interaction. This has worked well for our clients in the past. We worked with media company Bloomberg to run an eyesight awareness event where opticians were invited in to speak to staff.

If you are able to host a bigger launch for your eyecare scheme I would highly recommend doing so – you are likely to see higher uptake and better return on investment through effective communications activity.

Once the launch has taken place engagement levels will decrease as time goes on. As such, it is always recommendable to plan several communications activities each year.

 

Top tips to launch eyecare voucher schemes:

1. Remember the savings. Having an eyecare voucher system creates a lot less administration for companies than claiming back the cost of eye tests through expenses
2. Know your stuff. Research all eyecare voucher scheme providers and choose a scheme which suits the needs of your company
3. It doesn’t have to be difficult. Choose an eyecare scheme which is straightforward and simple
4. Keep staff in the loop. Ensure that you keep employees informed as to the progress of implementing the scheme into your company
5. Initiate communications activity. Communicate the scheme to all employees when the vouchers have been received and are ready to be given out
6. Maintain interest. Re-communicate at intervals throughout the year to keep up interest and ensure new starters are aware of the scheme
7. Good planning is essential. Ensure that a record is kept mapping when the vouchers have been given out, when the next eye test is due and when spectacle vouchers go out.

 

If you would like more information on eyecare voucher schemes check out our White Paper, Developing a Company Eyecare Policy, Your Options & Legal Obligations.