It’s 9:07 a.m. You’re still catching up on yesterday’s Slack threads when another ping arrives: “Quick one—does our dental plan cover my kid’s braces?” Ten minutes later: “What’s the difference between an HSA and an FSA again?” By lunch, you’ve answered the same three questions six different ways.
And while benefits questions may be small, the hours they eat up? Not so much. We ran the numbers, and the time sink is bigger than you’d think—and it’s one of the biggest hidden drains on HR cost optimization.
But don’t worry, there’s a way to win back those hours each month.
Time is currency, and HR doesn’t have enough
You know that HR teams are busier than ever; your budget isn’t the only scarce resource, time and focus are in short supply. Between meetings, admin, and the constant stream of “quick questions,” suddenly your day disappears in the blink of an eye
Research backs it up: HR departments spend nearly 14.8 hours a week in meetings, and more than half of their time (57%) dedicated to administrative tasks.
Layer in the endless cycle of benefits Q&A, and you’ve lost almost a whole work week each month.
No wonder it feels like you’re running in circles.
The real cost of benefits questions on repeat—and the impact on HR cost optimization
“Hi, how do I…?” always starts small. But, you know how quickly those little pings stack up from payroll changes to leave of absence policies; it’s a never-ending queue of questions.
Here’s what the math shows:
- Enterprise HR teams field about 500 benefits questions a month.
- SMB HR pros handle around 200 questions a month (often solo or in tiny teams).
- Each one takes 5-6.5 minutes to answer.
That adds up to:
- 54 hours a month lost for Enterprise teams (more than a full work week).
- 17 hours a month lost for SMBs (basically two full working days).
Enterprise Organizations
Spent answering questions
Small-to-Medium Organizations
Spent answering questions
And it’s not just about the clock. According to SHRM, 57% of HR professionals are already working beyond capacity, and Gallagher reports that 38% say their wellbeing has declined.
When you think about what else you could be doing with that time—strategizing, strengthening culture, or just getting a breather—it’s clear: answering repeat questions isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a major drain on HR cost optimization and team efficiency.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get that time back? Spoiler: You can.
A smarter way to stop the question loop
You’re not alone in looking for digital solutions to help with the never-ending questions; 69% of HR leaders plan to invest in a platform to reduce admin and improve their benefits communication strategy. And of course, the goal isn’t to replace the human side of HR, but to give you back the hours you need for it.
That’s where Ask ALEX comes in. Our AI-powered chat assistant answers up to 80% of the most common benefits questions instantly, helping employees make more confident benefit decisions while freeing up HR time.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Enterprise teams: Ask ALEX can save up to 43 hours a month—an entire work week you and your team can spend on strategy, culture, or anything besides answering the same three questions over and over.
- SMB teams: For one-person (or very small) HR departments, Ask ALEX returns about 12.5 hours a month—roughly a day and a half to focus on your people instead of chasing down paperwork.
It’s not just about efficiency. It’s about confidence. Employees know they can get fast, accurate answers, and HR finally gets breathing room to show up as a true strategic partner.
With Ask ALEX,
Enterprise teams can save
With Ask ALEX,
SMB teams can save
Take back your time
Benefits questions won’t ever fully go away—and that’s okay. But every hour you get back matters. Maybe it’s time to check in with a manager who’s been struggling. Or to finally move that culture initiative from “back-burner” to “in progress.” Maybe it’s simply time to pause, breathe, and plan ahead instead of reacting.
Ask ALEX helps make that possible. By handling the repeat questions (and doing it with accuracy and empathy), HR teams of every size win back real hours—hours that fuel connection, strategy, and the kind of thoughtful work that moves a business forward. Because when HR has more space to think, everyone benefits.
