Employees Value Vision Benefits, But Desire Better Eyewear Coverage and Education
Transitions Optical Research Reveals Providing Coverage of Premium Lens Options
Would Likely Increase Vision Benefit Enrollment, Employee Satisfaction and Retention
San Diego, April 24, 2017 – Transitions Optical has released a new wave of research, reinforcing the benefits that employers could see by offering a comprehensive vision benefit to their workforce. According to the 2017 Transitions Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey1, conducted by Wakefield Research, vision benefits are very much in demand—and simply offering vision coverage could set companies apart and help increase employee satisfaction. In fact, 98 percent of employees surveyed believe that including vision benefits as part of an overall health package shows that companies care about their employees’ well-being.
Additionally, the survey found that offering a high quality vision benefit—including coverage of premium lens options, like Transitions ® lenses—can increase employee retention. Nearly nine out of 10 employees (87 percent) said they would be more likely to stay at a company that offered high quality vision benefits, such as coverage of premium lens and frame options. Millennial workers were the most likely to strongly agree with this statement, with nearly half saying they’d be more likely to stay at a company that offered premium vision coverage.
But while employees certainly value vision coverage, the survey found that simply offering this benefit to employees is not enough—uncovering a strong desire for employers, as well as vision plans, to provide proactive and ongoing education about vision benefits, including information on the latest eyewear options and lens technologies.
Increasing Enrollment in Vision Benefits
With ever-increasing visual demands, both at work and at home, more than eight in ten employees who are offered vision benefits through their employer are already choosing to enroll—a number in-line with dental benefits and nearing general medical coverage. But while enrollment in vision benefits remains high, the survey identified several factors that can help employers to further increase enrollment.
Of the employees not previously enrolled in their company’s vision plan, nearly six in ten (59 percent) said they would be motivated to enroll if they thought that they could be experiencing better vision. Additionally, over half of employees (53 percent) said they would be more likely to enroll after learning that an eye exam can provide insights into their overall health. The survey also uncovered several additional factors impacting enrollment motivation: 58 percent said they would enroll if they thought they could save on overall medical costs; 44 percent would after learning about the importance of eye disease prevention; and 34 percent would if they thought they could be more productive at work.
The survey also found that employees are looking for better eyewear options from their vision plans—and they’re willing to pay higher premiums to get them. The vast majority (83 percent) said they would be more likely to enroll in—or keep using—a vision plan that fully covers options like Transitions lenses. Eight out of 10 employees said they would also be willing to pay extra per pay period if their plan fully covered products like Transitions lenses, with more than two-thirds of employees saying they would be willing to pay more than $3 extra per pay period.
A Desire for Ongoing Education
Providing education about premium lens options is critical in maintaining high vision benefit enrollment—and employees want this information from both their vision plans and directly from their employers. The survey revealed that nearly all employees (93 percent) believe that their vision plans should provide education about how certain lens options can protect their eyes, and 88 percent agreed that their vision plans should offer education on the health benefits provided by premium lens technologies.
Nearly all employees (95 percent) also said they want their employer to contact them proactively with information on lens technologies, new eyewear innovations and other topics related to eye health—with 58 percent saying they want to be contacted several times per year.
“Today’s employees want better vision coverage—and more frequent education that goes beyond the enrollment period. This is a trend we’re seeing across all generations, and particularly among Millennial employees, who are making up an increasing portion of the workforce,” said Drew Smith, director of North America channels, Transitions Optical. “As a strategy for retaining and recruiting top employees, companies should consider offering a vision plan that not only covers premium lens options, like Transitions lenses, but also backs this coverage up by providing information and resources on how the right eyewear can improve and protect eye health, while boosting productivity.”
With 83 percent of employees saying they go online to access resources provided by their vision plans, the survey also revealed a need for vision plans to ramp up their websites with information about eye health and specific plan offerings. Beyond going online to better understand the basics of their vision benefits, one-third of employees (34 percent) said they turn to their vision plan’s website to learn more about different lens technologies and frame options.
To help elevate the importance of eye exams and quality eyewear available through a vision benefit, Transitions Optical offers a variety of employee- and employer-focused tools and education. These resources can be accessed free-of-charge through the Transitions Healthy Sight Working for You® public education program.
ABOUT TRANSITIONS HEALTHY SIGHT WORKING FOR YOU®
Transitions Healthy Sight Working for You ® is a public education initiative established by Transitions Optical to raise awareness of the value of quality vision benefits. Reaching employers, benefits brokers and employees, the program outreach focuses on ways that comprehensive vision care and the right eyewear options can help to manage health care costs and increase productivity. Complimentary vision savings calculators and other employee education materials are available through HealthySightWorkingforYou.org.
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Transitions Optical Launches New Consumer PR and Social Media Campaign: The Good Light Project™
Brand Partners with Actress Jamie Chung to Kick off Campaign and Sweepstakes
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., April 21, 2017 – To bring its new advertising campaign "Live the Good Light™" to life for consumers in 2017, Transitions Optical is launching the Good Light Project™ – an initiative that illustrates the role changing light plays in shaping our days and nights, and some of our most memorable moments. Transitions Optical will introduce eyeglass wearers to the Good Light Project online and on social media through a consumer sweepstakes and by partnering with influential Transitions ® lens wearers including actress Jamie Chung.
“For the first time we’re talking about harmful blue light to consumers through our new advertising efforts, and our partnership with Jamie Chung will play a big role in how we talk about what harmful blue light is and how Transitions lenses can help,” said Patience Cook, director, North America marketing, Transitions Optical. “Our goal with the Good Light Project is to spread the message that Transitions lenses can help protect our eyes from both UV and harmful blue light so that we are able to embrace the goodness found in light and live life to the fullest.”
The Good Light Project promotion launches April 21, 2017 and encourages people to share photos of how changing light shapes their days, nights and moments using the hashtag #GoodLightProject. To participate, consumers can upload a photo and optional caption at Transitions.com/GoodLightProject or by posting a photo on Instagram or Twitter using #GoodLightProject and #Sweepstakes by May 25, 2017. Entrants must follow @transitionslenses to enter via Instagram and Twitter. As part of the sweepstakes, each week for five weeks, three entrants will win a $300 gift card to use toward a local Live the Good Light experience, and be entered to win one grand prize trip to Lake Tahoe or New York City for an unforgettable experience that embraces the goodness found in light. All winners will also receive Transitions lenses.
Actress Jamie Chung is serving as Transitions Optical’s Good Light Project ambassador, helping to highlight how Transitions lenses help her look and see her best in every light – whether she’s indoors or out. To help promote the new campaign and sweepstakes, Jamie recently visited Austin, Texas to capture how her Transitions lenses keep up with her busy lifestyle by seamlessly adapting to every situation throughout the day. As part of the Good Light Project, Jamie and other influencers will showcase how they live life more comfortably when they are wearing Transitions lenses and their eyes are protected from harmful blue light and UV rays.
Throughout the year, consumers can share photos that show how changing light shapes their life using #GoodLightProject. More information on the Good Light Project and sweepstakes can be found at Transitions.com/GoodLightProject.
About Transitions Optical
Transitions Optical is the leading provider of plastic photochromic (adaptive) lenses to optical manufacturers worldwide. Having been the first to successfully manufacture and commercialize plastic adaptive lenses in 1990, and as a result of its relentless investment in research and development and technology, Transitions Optical offers a wide variety of products, setting new standards of advanced performance to provide ever increasing visual comfort and UV protection. Product leadership, consumer focus, and operational excellence have made the Transitions® brand one of the most recognized consumer brands in optics. For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, visit Transitions.com or TransitionsPRO.com.
No purchase necessary to enter sweepstakes. Open to legal residents of the 50 US & DC, 18 and older. For Official Rules, visit Transitions.com/GoodLightProject.