The Employer’s Guide to Last-minute Employee Benefits Updates Before The New Year

As the year draws to a close, it’s essential for employers in and around Charlotte, NC to review and update their employee benefits programs. Taking proactive steps now can help verify compliance with state and federal regulations, avoid costly mistakes and set your business up to start 2026 with a benefits package that supports both your business goals and its employees’ needs.

5 Key Year-end Benefits Tasks

Offering optimal employee benefits can have many advantages for your business, but garnering rewards like better retention and a company culture consisting of camaraderie requires careful consideration by your leaders and HR team. Consider the following key steps:

1. Review plan documents and compliance requirements. Thoroughly review of all benefits plan documents, including health, dental, vision and retirement plans. Confirm that your offerings align with current regulations and double-check deadlines for required notices, such as Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and COBRA notifications.
2. Update employee information. Accurate employee data is crucial for benefits administration. Before the new year, verify that all employee records are up to date—especially for new hires, terminations and life event changes. This can help prevent coverage gaps and make sure that payroll deductions are correct.
3. Inform employees. Clear communication is key to employee satisfaction. If there are any changes to your benefits offerings, contribution rates or enrollment procedures, notify your team promptly. Provide reminders about open enrollment deadlines and any actions employees need to take before the end of the year.
4. Audit payroll and deductions. At The VantagePoint Group, our team understands the importance of auditing your company’s payroll to confirm that benefits deductions match employee elections. Address any discrepancies now to avoid issues with tax reporting or coverage lapses in the new year.
5. Evaluate voluntary benefits. Year-end is a great time to assess the value of voluntary benefits and wellness initiatives. Consider employee feedback and participation rates to determine if adjustments are needed to better support your workforce.

How We Support Employers

At The VantagePoint Group, we can help guide our clients through every step of the year-end benefits review process. Contact us today to get started.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.