---
name: benefits-guide
description: "Writes employee benefits guides explaining health insurance, retirement plans, PTO, and perks in plain language. Use when onboarding new hires or updating benefits documentation."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Benefits Guide

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Create an employee benefits guide for new hires
- Rewrite complex benefits information in plain language
- Document a new benefits package for your growing team
- Update an existing guide with new perks or policy changes

**DO NOT** use this skill for benefits plan selection, insurance broker negotiations, or legal compliance documents. This is for communicating benefits clearly to employees.

---

## Core Principle

IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS TO ASK HR TO EXPLAIN A BENEFIT, THE GUIDE HAS FAILED — WRITE AT AN 8TH-GRADE READING LEVEL WITH CONCRETE EXAMPLES.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Benefits offered** | "List all benefits you offer (health, dental, vision, 401k, PTO, remote stipend, etc.)" | Must be provided |
| **Company size** | "How many employees?" | 5-25 |
| **Eligibility rules** | "When do benefits kick in? (day 1, after 30 days, after 90 days)" | Day 1 for full-time |
| **Enrollment details** | "Open enrollment dates? How do employees sign up?" | Annual open enrollment |
| **Audience** | "New hires, all employees, or specific group?" | All employees |
| **Tone** | "Formal HR document or conversational guide?" | Conversational and clear |

**GATE: Confirm brief before proceeding.**

---

## Phase 2: Outline

### Standard Guide Sections

1. **Welcome and overview** — what is included at a glance
2. **Health and wellness** — medical, dental, vision, mental health
3. **Financial benefits** — retirement, equity, bonuses
4. **Time off** — PTO, sick days, holidays, parental leave
5. **Work perks** — remote stipend, learning budget, wellness allowance
6. **Eligibility and enrollment** — who qualifies, how to enroll, key dates
7. **FAQ** — top 10 questions employees actually ask
8. **Contacts and resources** — who to ask, where to go

**GATE: Present outline and confirm which sections apply before writing.**

---

## Phase 3: Write

### Writing Rules

- Use plain language — "You pay $50/month for individual coverage" not "Employee contribution for single-tier enrollment"
- Include dollar amounts and specific numbers wherever possible
- Add a real-world example for every complex benefit (especially insurance deductibles and 401k matching)
- Use comparison tables for plan options
- Bold key numbers: costs, dates, deadlines
- Include "What this means for you" callouts after technical sections

### Section Format

Each benefit section follows this structure:
1. **What it is** — one-sentence plain-language explanation
2. **What you get** — specific coverage, amounts, or allowances
3. **What it costs you** — employee contribution if any
4. **How to use it** — enrollment steps, claims process, or access instructions
5. **Example** — concrete scenario showing the benefit in action

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### Final Deliverables

1. **Complete benefits guide** — formatted for the stated audience
2. **Quick-reference card** — one-page summary with key numbers and dates
3. **New hire email template** — welcome message pointing to the guide with enrollment deadlines
4. **FAQ section** — answers to the 10 most common benefits questions

---

## Example 1: Startup Benefits Guide (15 people, basic package)

**Health:** Company covers 80% of premiums. You pay ~$120/month for individual, ~$350/month for family.
**PTO:** Unlimited PTO with a 2-week minimum encouraged. No accrual, no payout.
**Learning:** $500/year learning stipend for courses, books, or conferences.

## Example 2: Growing Company (50 people, comprehensive package)

**Health:** Choice of two plans — PPO ($150/mo) or HDHP with HSA ($80/mo + $1,500 company HSA contribution).
**Retirement:** 401(k) with 4% company match, vested immediately.
**Parental Leave:** 12 weeks paid for all parents, biological or adoptive.

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Insurance jargon without translation** — "coinsurance," "out-of-pocket maximum," and "deductible" need plain-English definitions with examples.
- **Missing dollar amounts** — "competitive benefits" means nothing. Show the numbers.
- **Burying enrollment deadlines** — if someone misses open enrollment because it was on page 47, the guide failed. Put dates up front.
- **One giant PDF** — break it into scannable sections with a table of contents. Nobody reads a 30-page document cover to cover.
- **Forgetting part-time or contractor differences** — if eligibility varies, state it clearly per employment type.

---

## Recovery

- **User unsure of benefit details:** Ask for their insurance broker contact or benefits portal login page. Work with available information and flag gaps.
- **Very few benefits to document:** Focus on what exists and frame it positively. Even PTO and flexible hours deserve a clear writeup.
- **Benefits vary by location:** Create a base guide with location-specific addenda or comparison tables.
- **User wants to attract talent with the guide:** Shift tone toward employer branding — emphasize total compensation value and unique perks.
