Benefits Website - Our Philosophy

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The participant web site should be the centerpiece of the benefit plan's communication strategy. Issues of cost, ease-of-use, accessibility, consistency and effectiveness are addressed best by developing a plan which considers the Web as the primary means of communicating with participants. MultiEmployer.com, Inc. provides analysis, content, content management, and optional hosting for the plan's primary web site as described below.

We recommend that developing a robust static informational site is the first step in making maximum use of electronic communications potential:

The static site should contain a high-level benefit overview (which we call BenefitTabs™) which permits the participant to drill-down via links into the online Summary Plan Description and, if appropriate into the online Plan Document itself. The online SPDs and Plan Documents themselves should be HTML formatted, indexed for instant access, and equipped with navigational buttons for random browsing. This is in addition to PDF versions for easy downloads and portability.

All of the plan's forms should be accessible online in PDF format. These forms should be capable of being filled out online and printed, or even better, submitted online with a digital signature. The forms section of the web site should also contain brochures, notices, and any other miscellaneous communications which were traditionally printed and mailed.

Considerable attention should be given to developing a comprehensive set of frequently asked questions, so the administrative office can spend most of its time answering the less frequently asked questions.

An extensive set of internal and external links should be made available to participants to assist them in understanding and using their benefits.

Information is also organized according to the various life events which participants may experience. These pages permit the participant to understand his benefits, what must be done vis-à-vis the plan, provide helpful outside resources, and general points of concern from a financial planning perspective.

Contact and general trust fund information is made readily accessible.

Plan news and announcements are prominently highlighted. Usually summary information is presented on the front page with links to archived documents.

The web site should contain an index, search function, and quick links to facilitate the participant's access.