After hitting a low point in 2014, the mining and resources industry has rebounded, leaders are positive about the future and competition to attract skilled people is strong.

Mining and resources (M&R) organisations can no longer rely only on offering competitive salaries to attract the best employees – they’re looking at ways to secure the skills and headcount for the long-term so they can focus on meeting rising production targets.

When it comes to employee retention, offering great employee benefits is a fantastic starting point, but the real challenge in a remote workforce is ensuring employees are fully aware of and engaged with the employee benefits plan, know what’s on offer and understand what it means for them.

Educating the workforce on benefits

Effective internal communication is challenging across sectors, but in a remote and diverse workforce the challenges are unique.

Email and online content isn’t always an option for sharing information and updates regarding complex employee benefit packages, particularly when it comes to the remote M&R workforce. Few M&R employees work in a deskbound office role and in many cases employees work 12-hour shifts and often 8 days straight before they have any real downtime. This means that sharing educational content through work email channels isn’t viable when much of the workforce carry only a personal mobile device to access content.

Onsite face-to-face education

Education and engagement is a key element of a successful benefits program. Via a blend of online and onsite education, Maxxia’s team of salary packaging specialists can talk employees through their program and help them understand how the benefits could potentially make a difference to their financial wellbeing.

Maxxia’s specialists have local area knowledge and industry insights so they understand M&R employees and their environment. Indeed, Maxxia has proudly introduced and onboarded thousands of M&R employees to the value of salary packaging – including a consistently strong uptake of remote housing benefits.

Self-service digital channels for ongoing benefits program management

Once each employee’s salary packaging benefits have been set up, the ongoing management of the package needs to be simple and easy. Maxxia offers access to a fully functioning mobile app and online portal so every employee has access to all the tools they need to manage their own experience.

Creating a buzz around benefits

Maxxia offers a hands-on approach to helping remote area employees truly understand the benefits available to them and the impact of their choices. If you want to know more, download Maxxia’s Essential Guide to Benefits in Mining & Resources: How employee benefits can unlock loyalty in a remote workforce .

Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. All salary packaging proposals are subject to the requirements of your employer. Administration fees will apply. The actual administration fee that applies to you may vary depending on your employer. ITCs (Input Tax Credits or refund on GST) are excluded. Maxxia may pay and receive commission or rebates in connection with some services and products it provides or arranges to be provided by third parties.