Springfield Business Journal_2020-11-16

T he employee benefit landscape is constantly evolving, and business owners must keep pace. No longer is the traditional offering of basic medical and ancillary products providing employers with the competitive edge. In the battle to attract, retain and engage employees, data driven long-term strategic plans provide win/win opportunities for both employers and employees alike. A benefit package that supports the growing and diverse needs of the employee is a game changer when delivered and communicated effectively. “We look at employee benefits, not just health insurance, as a complete package,” said Cameron Black, Advisor and Director of Corporate Wellness Consulting at Ollis/Akers/ Arney. Business owners need to think about not only what employees are bringing to the table but what the owners themselves are doing to encourage them to stay long term. While agents want to ensure that business owners are offering competitive traditional benefits like medical, vision and dental insurance, they should also be partnering with owners to help them strategically plan for the next three to five years so that business can grow and owners can continuously invest in their people. To ensure the strategy is effectively meeting employees’ needs and owners’ expectations, Ollis/Akers/Arney Advisors communicate with owners on a regular basis throughout the year in order to better understand their business dynamics and measure the success of the program. Helping to uncover any areas of deficiency and then working with the leadership within each business to bring those up to the desired standard should be the objective. Included in this process is communication with employees to help ensure they fully understand and utilize the complete benefits plan. A unique example of how the Ollis/Akers/ Arney approach differs is helping clients implement employee wellness programs. Plans that include an employee wellness component have shown improvements in employee engagement and retention due to the fact employees feel valued. “Impacting the value of an employee benefits program is more than just the products offered and tweaking plan designs,” said Kevin Robbins, Chief Sales Officer with Ollis/Akers/Arney. “We pore through the benchmarking data and bring a holistic approach to help employers gain an understanding of the needs and changes that go on with their own employees, and also the ones they hope to attract. And while medical, dental and vision are incredibly important, there’s a much larger conversation to be had and it benefits everyone.” Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors • Recognized nationally for innovation and staying ahead of emerging trends and comparative data • Helps companies objectively see their current programs and how they compare in a similar industry using external benchmarking metrics • Focuses on the employee experience to increase value for the employee • Has 55 of their 64 employees who are licensed agents with 32 industry designations • Is an industry leader in employee wellness solutions, dramatically improving employee engagement and choices for a healthier lifestyle • So proud that – o John Akers and Erica Gaynor were named as SBJ Trusted Advisers o Erica Gaynor was selected as a National 2020 Top Women in Benefit Advising o Cameron Black was awarded the National 2020 Wellness Adviser of the Year from Employee Benefit Adviser PAID ADVERTISING Scope of Employee Benefits Changing to Meet Demand of Competitive Employers 2274 E. Sunshine Springfield, MO 65804 • (417) 881-8333 • OllisAkersArney.com