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The BenefitsTV Podcast is dedicated to helping you navigate the complex world of employee benefits. Join our hosts, Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila as they discuss the latest trends and...
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The BenefitsTV Podcast is dedicated to helping you navigate the complex world of employee benefits. Join our hosts, Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila as they discuss the latest trends and insights in the employee benefits industry and provide you with actionable tips and strategies to make the most of your benefits program.
show less
27 SEP 2024 · In this episode of BenefitsTV - The Podcast, co-hosts Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila delve into innovative strategies for employee benefits communication, with a focus on the future. They discuss the effectiveness of using text messaging as a communication tool, inspired by the 2017 Sonoma County fires. Additionally, the hosts emphasize the importance of understanding the cost and efficiency differences between primary care, urgent care, and emergency room visits. They advocate for employers to adopt forward-thinking communication methods and address how to effectively convey benefit information to a multi-generational workforce.
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:24 Innovative Employee Benefits Communication
01:02 The Rise of Employee Texting
02:18 The Importance of Consistent Messaging
03:48 Embracing Technology for Better Communication
04:39 Generational Differences in Communication
08:48 Primary Care vs. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room
10:32 Cost-Effective Healthcare Options
14:13 The Value of Asking Questions
17:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Andrew McNeil - AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila - RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
22 AUG 2024 · In this episode of BenefitsTV - The Podcast, co-hosts Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila reconnect after a brief hiatus to discuss recent trends in healthcare costs and the growing interest in Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs). They dive into a BenefitsPro article predicting an 8% rise in healthcare costs in 2025, explore the factors driving these increases, and ponder the impact on employers and employees. The discussion also covers the pros and cons of ICHRAs, highlighting their potential as a flexible solution for employers looking to manage expenses while offering employees greater choice in their healthcare plans.
00:00 Welcome Back to BenefitsTV - The Podcast
00:31 Catching Up: Personal Updates
02:07 Healthcare Cost Trends for 2025
10:41 Understanding ICHRAs
12:45 Employee Perspectives on ICHRAs
17:30 Conclusion and Sign-Off
Contact:
Andrew McNeil: AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila: RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
25 JUL 2024 · In this episode of BenefitsTV - The Podcast, hosts Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila discuss the significance of creating a fun work environment and the positive impact it has on employees. They share experiences from their company, Arrow Benefits Group, detailing a two-day summer party and the benefits of such gatherings. Additionally, they delve into the important topic of maternity and paternity leave, sharing personal experiences and discussing broader trends and cultural shifts regarding parental leave policies. They emphasize the importance of employers supporting employees by encouraging the use of parental leave. The hosts also invite listeners to share their own experiences and practices regarding these workplace topics.
00:00 Welcome Back to Benefits TV
00:38 Creating a Fun Work Environment
03:25 The Impact of Company Events
12:55 Maternity and Paternity Leave Insights
17:46 Encouraging Work-Life Balance
24:36 Closing Thoughts and Farewell
Contact:
Andrew McNeil: AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila: RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
20 MAY 2024 · In this episode of BenefitsTV - The Podcast, the hosts discuss various workplace benefits topics, including personalization, education, and the role of advisors. They explore Rosario's experience as a finalist for Advisor of the Year and the need for innovation in the industry. The conversation covers the impact of larger companies entering the benefits space, self-funding strategies, engaging diverse workforce segments, and the importance of communication in enhancing benefits programs. The hosts encourage listeners to share their experiences in personalizing benefits and engaging employees.
00:00 Welcome Back to Benefits TV
00:28 Advisor of the Year: A Reflective Journey
01:04 Bringing Innovations to the North Bay
02:04 The Impact of Big Companies on Health Insurance
03:38 Engaging New Generations in the Insurance Industry
04:48 Addressing the Translation Barrier in Insurance
06:11 Generational Differences in the Workforce
07:01 Customizing Benefits for Diverse Employee Needs
10:17 Effective Communication Strategies for Benefits Programs
15:19 The Power of Personalization in Employee Engagement
18:16 Closing Thoughts and Invitations for Feedback
22 MAR 2024 · In this episode of BenefitsTV - the Podcast, co-hosts Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila discuss the top benefits that Gen Z expects from employers, based on a study by the Standard Insurance company.Â
The episode delves into the changing landscape of employee benefits, highlighting Gen Z's growing influence in the workforce. By 2025, Gen Z is expected to comprise about 30% of the workforce, emphasizing the importance for employers to understand and cater to their needs. Surprising many, the top benefits for Gen Z include medical insurance, paid family and medical leave, retirement savings plans, life insurance, and mental health days, with a tie for fifth place between emergency savings accounts and mental health services. The hosts also touch on the significance of financial wellness, the rise of financial literacy, and the changing perspectives on work and family life.
00:00 Welcome to Benefits TV: Discussing Gen Z's Workplace Benefits
00:40 Casual Banter: Weather, Baseball, and Family Life
03:41 Diving Into Gen Z's Top 5 Expected Benefits from Employers
06:12 Exploring the Surprises in Gen Z's Benefit Preferences
16:58 The Importance of Financial Wellness and Emergency Savings
21:00 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement to Engage with Benefits Advisors
Contact us:
Andrew McNeil - AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila - RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
12 FEB 2024 · In this episode of BenefitsTV The Podcast, co-hosts Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila discuss the challenges experienced by organizations with open enrollment and benefits compliance at the tail end of 2023 and the start of 2024. They highlight important factors like communication to employees, early strategic planning, and proper understanding of the range of options to handle issues like rate increases. They also dive into a commonly found issue where some employers often confuse certain documents or overlook certain procedures which could lead to potential compliance problems, affecting even smaller employers. The hosts encourage employers to ask more questions and start strategic conversations early with their brokers, and also offer their audience to reach out to them for free audits to ensure compliance. They stress the importance of staying updated on changing requirements due to changes in company size as well.
00:03 Introduction and Welcome
00:36 Discussing Open Enrollment Challenges
02:08 Exploring Employer Experiences
04:24 The Importance of Communication in Benefits
06:13 Exploring Different Benefits Options
09:38 The Importance of Benefits Compliance
15:26 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
Andrew McNeil - AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila - RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
9 JAN 2024 · New Year, New Beginnings: Embracing Changes in 2024
In this episode of Benefits tv, co-hosts Andrew McNeil and Rosario Abela discuss their first podcast of the new year. They talk about the importance of adapting to the changing norms, particularly in the work landscape. Specific topics included the need for improved communication and education regarding benefits programs, simplifying the employee experience, and embracing workplace flexibility.
00:11 Introduction and New Year Greetings
01:00 Reflecting on the Previous Year
01:38 New Year Resolutions and Changes
02:22 Covid-19 and its Impact
03:03 School Policies during Covid-19
04:01 Stanley Cup Craze
06:56 Beanie Baby Craze of the Nineties
09:09 NFTs and Other Recent Trends
09:31 Remembering Important Dates
09:56 Discussing Insurance and the Success Guide for Employers in the New Year
10:17 Highlighting Key Points from the Monthly Column
11:16 Communicate and Educate Your Benefits Program
15:58 Simplify the Employee Experience
19:52 Embrace Workplace Flexibility
24:29 Concluding Thoughts and Looking Forward
Andrew McNeil - AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila - RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
28 NOV 2023 · In this solo-host episode of BenefitsTV - The Podcast, Andrew McNeil discusses two key topics: 'Zoom fatigue', and how employees feel about the benefits provided by their companies. He scrutinizes the root causes behind Zoom fatigue following a Stanford study and provides suggestions on reducing it. These include turning off the camera during meetings and shifting back to phone calls. Switching gears, he lays emphasis on how important it is for employers to communicate about the benefits they offer and to ensure their employees are excited about them. He also provides insights into how to achieve this through multi-platform communication, the use of real life stories to demonstrate the advantage of benefits, encouraging feedback and continually engaging with employees to enhance their understanding of the benefits they have access to.
Show notes:
- 00:11 Introduction and Overview
- 00:32 Understanding and Combating Zoom Fatigue
- 05:01 Exciting Employees About Their Benefits
- 09:24 Conclusion and Preview of Next Episode
Contact:
Andrew McNeil - AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila - RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
1 NOV 2023 · On this episode, we chat with Will Seppi, owner of Costeaux French Bakery, about the 100-year history of this beloved Sonoma County bakery. Will shares how the business has evolved over the decades, while staying true to its old-world baking traditions and commitment to community. We also discuss some of the challenges facing small business owners today, including managing a multigenerational workforce and providing quality, affordable benefits.
Show Notes:
- Costeaux French Bakery was founded in 1923 as a French-American bakery distributing bread in Sonoma County [00:00:48]
- The business was purchased by a French couple, John and Annie Costeaux, in 1972. The Seppi family bought it from them in 1981. [00:01:11]
- Today Costeaux has 130 employees across multiple locations in Sonoma County, including a flagship cafe in Healdsburg. [00:02:21]
- Core values like community, family, quality, and service guide decisions as the business grows. [00:02:37]
- Managing a multigenerational workforce brings opportunities and challenges. [00:03:30]
- Hiring for culture fit is crucial. Costeaux aims to create an interview process that gets to know candidates. [00:04:12]
- Providing quality benefits at reasonable costs is an ongoing struggle, especially with rising insurance rates. [00:05:47]
- Costeaux offers perks like employee discounts and birthday cakes to show appreciation. [00:08:25]
- The bakery aims to maintain its culture by empowering managers to lead by example. [00:10:11]
- Keeping service personal and human-focused is important, even as technology permeates business. No kiosk ordering at Costeaux! [00:19:03]
Contact:
Andrew McNeil: AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila: RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
16 OCT 2023 · In this episode of Benefits TV, Andrew and Rosario discuss strategies for employers and employees to deal with increasing health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs. They talk about plan design changes like HRAs and HSAs, using telehealth, shopping for medications, and taking advantage of standalone providers.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:44 - Increasing premiums and plan changes
3:04 - Communicating changes to employees
4:28 - HRAs vs. HSAs
6:47 - Bronze plans with HRA funding
10:00 - First year utilization with HRA plans
13:35 - ICRAs for out-of-state employees
15:59 - Saving money with standalone providers
19:10 - Using urgent care over ER
21:40 - Telehealth pros and cons
25:00 - Provider navigation services
26:58 - Wrap up
Show Notes:
- Average premium increases Andrew & Rosario are seeing: 10-15%
- Importance of communicating full cost of benefits to employees
- HRA plans can provide immediate funding vs HSAs that are funded over time
- First year of HRA plans often have low utilization as employees learn about new benefit
- ICRAs allow employers to reimburse out-of-state employees for individual plans
- Employees should shop pharmacies for best generic drug prices and pay cash if lower than copay
- Visiting standalone labs/clinics is usually cheaper than hospitals
- Urgent care is significantly cheaper than ER for non-emergencies
- Telehealth is convenient but some providers are mandating it, frustrating patients
- Provider navigation services can help negotiate medical bills and find cost-effective care
Contact us:
Andrew McNeil - AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
Rosario Avila - RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com
The BenefitsTV Podcast is dedicated to helping you navigate the complex world of employee benefits. Join our hosts, Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila as they discuss the latest trends and...
show more
The BenefitsTV Podcast is dedicated to helping you navigate the complex world of employee benefits. Join our hosts, Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila as they discuss the latest trends and insights in the employee benefits industry and provide you with actionable tips and strategies to make the most of your benefits program.
show less
Information
| Author | Lend An Ear Media, LLC |
| Organization | Lend an Ear Media |
| Categories | Management , Careers , Entrepreneurship |
| Website | - |
| andrewm@arrowbenefitsgroup.com |
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