Employees who areconfident in their benefits choices are much more likely to besatisfied with their employee benefits package, according to a newreport.

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America,New York, published this finding in a report based on the findingsfrom two separate Internet surveys conducted concurrently among1,667 benefits plan participants (employees) and 1,071 benefitsplan sponsors (employers). The Center for Strategy Research, aBoston-based market research firm, conducted the surveys in May andJune.

The report observes that, while fewer than half of employees arevery satisfied with their company's employee benefits package, more than 70% whoare confident in their benefits selections are very satisfied.

Fewer than 4 in 10 employers (37%) say their benefitscommunications are effective in helping employees make the rightchoices about benefits.

The lack of confidence in communications contributes toemployers' perceptions about benefits: Only 42% of employersbelieve that their employees are very satisfied with the benefitsprogram offered.

And the perceptions match reality: Justone-third (34%) of respondents, the report shows, say the benefitscommunications they receive are very effective. And fewer than halfof employees (49%) say they are very satisfied with their benefitspackages.

With respect to how employees want to receive benefitscommunications, e-mail (either at home or work) is the top choiceat 40%. E-mail was followed closely by traditional mail, either athome or work (36%).

Smaller percentages of respondents cited one-on-one meetingsduring work hours (28%), watching non-interactive onlinepresentations (25%), group meetings during work hours (24%), andvideos or DVDs (19%).

The study observes that interest in receiving benefitsinformation via social media is currently very low, with just 5% ofemployees citing a preference for this channel.

Eight in 10 workers (80%) say they want the ease and convenienceof signing up for benefits online, so they can enroll by themselveswhen and where they choose.