Study: Making Benefit Enrollment Harder Increases Participation

A new study from Harvard Business School suggests that adding friction to the sign-up process for employee benefits can paradoxically increase participation. The research, conducted by faculty member Ashley V. Whillans and published by Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, found that when employees are required to take extra steps to enroll in a benefit, they are more likely to use it. The study challenges conventional wisdom that ease of enrollment leads to higher uptake. Instead, it suggests that a moderate level of difficulty may encourage employees to more carefully consider the benefit and commit to it. The findings have implications for how companies design benefit programs, potentially leading to more engaged employees and better utilization of offered perks. The article was featured on the Harvard Business Review website in August 2026.