Benefits Administrator
A Day in the Life of a Benefits Administrator
鈥淚 like to think of myself as a teacher,鈥 said one benefits administrator, and her job description seemed to match up with her perspective. Benefit administrators explain, summarize, and publish material which describes to employees their rights and obligations under their benefit plans. Benefit administrators handle grievances, take suggestions, and act as intermediaries between benefits providers and employees. Administrators with strong communication skills, sharp minds, and the instinct to explain, to teach, find their choice of occupation gives them a high degree of satisfaction. Over 40 percent of the benefits administrator鈥檚 day is spent on the telephone, either with providers or clients, explaining procedures and getting information. Another 40 percent of the day is spent writing, reading, and researching reports. Benefits administration is one outcropping of the corporate culture it supports; many who enter the industry with the belief that employee benefits should help the employee at any cost are rudely awakened. Decisions on benefits are made in the context of this corporate culture, particularly with an eye to the bottom line. Benefits administration is a way of providing employees with support, a safety net, and advice on investments, but any decisions that help the employees should help the company as well. Administrators must have a strong sense of self and an ability to explain benefits plans clearly. 鈥淓xpect to be blamed for everything from the client not filling out their forms properly to a rude pharmacist,鈥 said one seven-year veteran. Balanced delicately between the clients and the providers, benefits administrators prove good targets for dissatisfied members of either side. This was cited as the largest downside of the profession, and may contribute to the number of administrators who leave the field between years three and six (nearly 35 percent). But this frustration is frequently offset by the general sense of helpfulness that benefits administrators feel in offering people options, educating them about their plans, and helping them through a confusing and intimidating healthcare system.Paying Your Dues
Candidates should have at least a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Favorably viewed majors include English, communications, psychology, history, business, and economics. While benefits administrators work for large and small firms alike, most entry-level opportunities exist in larger firms with entire benefits administration departments. Smaller companies usually combine benefits administration duties with other responsibilities. No professional accreditation programs are required in this profession, but a familiarity with issues in the field, an understanding of the areas of responsibility for benefits administrators, and a willingness to work hard and learn are all critical.Present and Future
As corporations grew in size and personnel issues and benefits programs became a significant portion of employee compensation beginning in the 1960s, benefits administrators came into being. Initially employed only by the largest companies to handle questions and respond to unusual situations, benefits administrators, or at least their responsibilities, have become part of the human resources department in most companies. Healthcare, once an afterthought for most companies, has taken center stage in the discussions of employee benefits. Most benefits programs are moving toward managed care (HMOs) as a part of cost-cutting measures, and this means that benefits administrators have a large job to do in terms of coordination and education. As benefits plans and insurance procedures become more complex, the number of administrators is expected to grow through the year 2000. Benefits administrator training programs and professional societies are likely to become more significant, but they will not affect the daily job or create licensing pressure for people entering the field. Today, benefits administrators are the fastest-growing level of vice-president at U.S. companies that employ thirty people or more.Quality of Life
PRESENT AND FUTURE
Two years into the profession, the benefits administrator has been exposed to the major areas of responsibility-insurance, compensation, and bonus structure-and has significant responsibility in each. Duties include co-authoring (with more senior personnel) summary description plans of benefits services, managing the distribution of materials to clients of the system, and meeting with members of the insurance industry who explain their products and services. Most attain the title 鈥渁nalyst鈥 and begin to specialize in one specific area.
FIVE YEARS OUT
Five-year veterans separate into two categories: those who have taken one area of specialization, and those who have chosen to move to a number of areas. The latter role isn鈥檛 necessarily chosen-many people are plucked out of the mix and asked to make themselves experts in a variety of fields. This 鈥渟tar-selecting鈥 is based primarily on performance and capabilities; many mentioned that the political process of networking, while existent, was not the primary means of advancement. Those who have chosen to specialize have mostly attained the title 鈥渟enior analyst鈥 in their area of expertise, and are managing less senior employees. Input is accepted on a variety of high-level issues, such as performance of plans and potential modifications to these arrangements. Hours are average; salaries rise significantly.
TEN YEARS OUT
Ten-year veterans鈥 lifestyles differ based on the size of the company they are associated with. Those in smaller firms head up departments, negotiate directly with vendors, work with top executives on benefits packages, and set corporate policy. Those in larger firms have areas of responsibility such as 鈥渄omestic packages of compensation鈥 or 鈥渄ental plans for North America.鈥 While this requires a degree of specialization, the head or vice president assumes all responsibility for planning, implementation, and education. Decisions are still overseen by generalists who have risen faster or who have greater experience, but are rarely countermanded. For those in small firms, salary increases are limited beyond this point; for those in larger firms, salary increases can still be significant.
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