In October 2026, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced its acquisition of Intelligent Communications Experiences, an Australian employee-communications specialist. The purchase adds a capability that benefits buyers should examine alongside technical advice: how an employer explains decisions and helps employees act on them. The Melbourne-based business will sit under the leadership of Gallagher’s employee benefits and HR consulting operations in Australia and New Zealand. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In October 2026, Lincoln Financial and the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) highlighted research on how employees understand voluntary benefits. The surveys covered 408 employers, 170 brokers and 1,130 eligible workers. Eighty-six per cent of employees reported spending no more than four hours reviewing enrolment material. Brief explanations in everyday language increased expressed interest in several types of cover. These findings concern reported views and interest; they do not

Strategic maturity remains the strongest predictor of success for internal communication teams, with well-socialized strategies helping organizations reduce risk and exceed performance targets, according to Gallagher’s 2026 Employee Communications Report, published in March 2026. The study of over 1,300 communications and HR professionals across 40 countries reveals a widening “Readiness Gap” between organizational needs and current capabilities. Organizations with high communication volumes experience a 30% jump in leadership trust

While the concept of employee engagement has been around for over two decades, its importance as a competitive driver for employers has sharply increased in recent years. Maximizing gains from the total rewards budget and attracting the best workforce, and then retaining employees by maintaining their motivation, has never been more critical to global business.