A. Hopkins Insurance & Financial Services

Category: Uncategorized

The Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

We spend, on average, 12-18% of our work week answering email—that’s an average of 620 emails a week, and about 11 hours of sifting through our inboxes, reading and crafting responses to connect and bring in business. Virtual Assistants (VAs), both human and AI (Artificial Intelligence), are a growing necessity for a business owner looking to keep her or his head above water.

There are all types of VAs for hire : social media or blog management; VAs specific to product launch, administration, transcription, accounting tasks, and everything in between. Hannah Paré of Liferaft Virtual Assistance specializes in email clean-up and maintenance, and customer service support. She supports her clients in anything from grocery shopping for a food truck to helping clients respond to business leads.

“A VA is a great fit for an entrepreneur, business owner or executive who wants the flexibility of a contractor,” explains Paré. “ The ROI makes sense—you don’t have the expenses of a full-time employee and, depending on your hourly rate, you reduce the number of hours on tasks that are not revenue generating.”

Other reasons to invest in a VA:

1. Stay on top of new technologies and trends. Hire someone who understands the world of social media, changing algorithms and social influencers. “What if your customers are more inclined to shop based on social media influencers?” suggests Paré. “That’s good information to know before you spend money on traditional marketing avenues.”

2. Support to automate weekly and monthly tasks. “Some of my clients are working a full-time job as well as trying to manage all the details of a side business and a family at home,” explains Paré, “That gets overwhelming pretty quickly if there aren’t certain processes in place. This is where things like automated invoicing processes, accounts receivable follow-up, or GST preparation is made easy if someone can take them off your plate.”

3. Services and Apps audit. Business owners and entrepreneurs do it all the time—pay a “bells-and-whistles” price for a software they only use for its basic functions. “There are hundreds of choices out there for programs and software, such as a file-sharing or storage, but to research them all takes time. A VA can look for the money-saving alternatives that are better suited to their clients’ needs.”

4. Costs audit. Online storage, file sharing services, memberships, SEO and website maintenance, floor mat cleaning, insurance—and the list goes on—how often do we really assess what is coming out of the business bank account every month? We sign up for memberships and services, and months (sometimes years) later are still paying for them, but not using them. “Like checking for quality control, check for holes in your bottom line that can be rectified by pressing the ‘unsubscribe’ button. A VA can help in finding and getting rid of those extraneous costs.”

5. Digital clean-up. It’s all those educational articles, those docs from professional association’s membership, it’s the list of blogs you want to read, that will benefit you, but you can’t get to right away. Your VA can file them, put them where you can easily access them when you have the time.

Also, business owners meet the expectations of their clients when they have all documentation at their fingertips. Get help organizing all your client’s emails and attached docs into a filing system that is easily accessible. “Digital organization and efficiency can be so time consuming, but also saves you so much time in the end, and results in better service delivery,” explains Paré.

Some tips for getting the most out of your Virtual Assistant?

1. Set the communication expectations from the beginning,” says Paré. “Do you expect your VA to be available in the evenings? Within 24 hours or less?”

2. Avoid micromanaging your VA. “Before you hire, know what tasks you want your VA to be responsible for and make sure you are comfortable delegating those tasks.”

3. When hiring your VA, interview your candidates face to face if possible, not only over the phone. “You need to know if you are going to click with the person who is managing your inbox.”

4. Decide what contracts you need your VA to sign, whether it is non-disclosure, or other.

5. Have your access codes, passwords and logins available so that your VA can accomplish what they need to without the roadblocks.

Author: ChamberPlan.ca

Read the original version of this article.

April 17, 2020
Responding to COVID-19 for Employers and Employees
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, I will do everything I can to provide the most up-to-date information for my valued clients and community. The best way for us to all do our part in the prevention of this virus starts at taking social distancing measures to help reduce the number of new cases, and protect communities. Self-isolation is essential if you have symptoms or have been diagnosed. Of course, it’s best to stay home if you do not need medical assistance. When out and about for essential reasons (i.e. grocery shopping) keep a distance between yourself and others. At this time it’s important to avoid crowds and large social events entirely, if possible.

Here are some common questions that might clear up your immediate confusion and anxiety related to Covi, as of March 20, 2020:

Do I have disability coverage if I contact COVID-19 or am quarantined?

If you hold Weekly Indemnity coverage under Chambers Plan and have contracted COVID-19, or have been under quarantine, or both, you can submit a claim. A self-imposed quarantine, not ordered by a Provincial Health Authority or a physician, is not considered a disability. A quarantine requested by an employer is also not considered a disability. If you do not have Weekly Indemnity coverage and are placed under quarantine, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance benefits.

Given these uncertain times and the possibility of delays in public services, what’s the best way to manage my plan and submit claims?

The best way to manage your plan is through our online benefits platform, my-benefits.ca. If you haven’t created an account, you can do so by clicking “sign-up” and then following the steps.

Once you’ve created an account you can sign up for direct deposit of claims payments to receive reimbursement of your claims, as soon as they are processed.

Do I have any trip cancellation? If I need to return home prior to the end of my scheduled trip, will I be covered?

Chambers Plan does not offer any trip cancellation or interruption under the out-of-country coverage.

For employers, the best ways to proceed in the workplace with the risks of COVID-19 include practicing the following:
- Make sure employees are informed and have access to reliable information
- Assess the situation daily and adjust the information if necessary
- Rely on trusted sources of information to share with your teams – for support, contact our Health Information Specialists or refer to your Health Navigation platform
- Provide access to handwashing areas and hand sanitizer while promoting hygiene best practices
- If possible, allow employees to work from home or arrange schedules to reduce social contact
- Be flexible with sick day requests and adjust your policies as needed
- If you are sick, stay at home
- Learn from COVID-19 and prepare for future similar events
Below is a resource guide created by the clinical team at Novus Health®, our partner that powers our my-benefits health® platform, containing useful information for employers and their employees and further developed answers to the questions above, and more.

CH_COVID19 update, 03-15(1)

Watch this webinar, where Teladoc Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lew Levy, and Director of Clinical Quality and Informatics, Dr. Bridget K. McCabe, discusses the latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak, protocols in place to identify and report cases, best practices for educating and preparing your population, and the role of virtual care in minimizing exposure to potentially contagious viruses.
March 31, 2020
Business Process: Is it time to rethink it?

Process. The word strikes deep into the hearts of business owners because we never stop thinking about it, or questioning it.

· Is my business working at an optimal level?

· Did I only need one meeting to accomplish what I just did in three?

· Could I have accomplished this task online or over the phone and saved the effort and time of meeting in person at this stage of the client relationship?

Overall, business process can be described as a collection of linked tasks which, at completion, result in delivering a product or service to your customer or client. Some companies outsource this, others manage it internally; however, business process management (BPM) is also a growing industry, expected to be grow to a $16 billion market by 2023.

There are many reasons to rethink your process:

· Growth, new market environment

· A restructure after acquisition

· Improve quality control

· Changing expectations of the customer or client

· New and better technologies available

An online business will have a much different set of processes than, say, a retail operation, vs. a non-profit organization, of course, but many of the same questions about process apply.

Explorance, a provider of survey software advises that if you are changing up any one or more processes in your business, start with the following steps:

1. “Start with identifying any need for change.” What does your current process look like? Are you not making deadlines, or spending more money in one area of the business than you think you should be? Is a process putting more pressure on one department or member of your team? Also, ask, “What are current issues or current risks for the company?”

2. Identify how one process impacts another. Is one process standing in the way of, or slowing the execution of another? Are there steps in the current process where you commonly encounter a roadblock? For example, is your client online ordering process straight forward, or does it frustrate the user enough that you are losing sales, or needing human interaction? Is a process presently slowing the efficiency of how your team works, and adding no value? Is there a step in the approval process that can be removed, for example?

3. Ensure your managers are on board with any changes to process. A process change can be as small (but important) as implementing a strategy for fixing broken links on your website, or as big (and important) as adding a position to your team to alleviate one step in a bigger process. Get your team involved, especially managers to make sure they are in agreement, or don’t have a different or better idea for fixing any process issues.

4. Set some process improvement objectives and goals. Commitment to a process change is paramount if you want to see a difference in efficiency, revenue, or any other aspect of your business. Setting those objectives and getting your team excited about the possibilities the change can bring will help in exploring your business’ optimal performance.

Though a team may be open to change in the process, it is not always successful. According to John Kotter, writer for Business Harvard Review’s article “Leading Change: Why transformation efforts fail,” more often than not change fails. Not establishing a sense of urgency and momentum for change is often what leads to its failure. “Sometimes executives underestimate how hard it can be to drive people out of their comfort zones,” says Kotter.

But the change doesn’t have to happen overnight. Set reasonable expectations, and accept that there might be a trial and error period; results may be better than you ever thought. Either way, there is nothing to lose—in the end, you will know your business better.

Author: ChamberPlan.ca

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January 12, 2020
Start a New Decade with These 5 Noteworthy Lessons from Small Business Owners

Entrepreneurs, in particular small business operators and owners, are not strangers to trial and error and misstep. What is important is what we learn and take away to fuel our next move. Here are a few lessons from small business owners to lead us into a new decade!

Hiring Key People. Susan Guillory, President of Egg Marketing & Communications, and contributor to Forbes says finding success is easier when you have the right people on your team. She admits to designing her own logo when she started her company 13 years ago and that it was a big mistake. “I can tell you that this DIY strategy is not effective as your business grows,” she says. She encourages all business owners to, in the very least, find one person who can support you.

Take action on new projects. Neal Schaffer is a social business coach and author of Maximize your Social. His advice is to push new projects forward. “Sometimes if means simply turning down things that we used to accept or deciding to simply unplug from other activities,” he shares. What does unplugging, or disengaging from usual practices look like for you and your business in 2020?

Collect your own data. How do you examine your own customers’ behaviours? Their spending patterns? Their aversions? What questions do they frequently ask? No one knows your business better than you do. Or rather…no one should know your business better than you do. But we are not always great at tracking our own data—that is customer demographics, how they found you, their likes and dislikes, etc. For Larry Kim, founder of Wordstream and CEO of MobileMonkey he believes the key to success is to “fail slightly less often by using more data rather than gut feel in project planning phases…”

How do you plan on gathering more of your own business’ data in 2020?

Tune out the noise and follow your instinct. Instinct—we know it’s there, and yet, we don’t always listen. Sometimes it’s because there is A LOT of noise to break through, but, also, listening to our instincts actually takes practice. Not only is it tricky to pin down that initial feeling we had about a certain business move or hire, but to ignore the other pressures that exist in business environment or society in general can be difficult. Caroline Ghosn, co-founder and CEO of Levo League, says there are always warning signs. “As an entrepreneur, the latitude of failure and of success is directly correlated to people. I am growing more and more attentive to my first instincts, even if I can’t justify them, as they apply to people.”

Keep it simple.

That’s Neil Patel’s simple advice. He is an entrepreneur, investor, advisor and well-known blogger, with expertise in online metrics and analytics. He admits to having many of his start-ups fail. “Typically the failure wasn’t due to the idea. Instead the solution was complicated and hard to use.”

Wishing you every success for your business ventures in 2020!

Author: ChamberPlan.ca

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January 12, 2020
Local Marketing Tips: Benefits of Event Sponsorship

Sponsoring a local event — like a fun run or a festival — is a great way to boost exposure for your small business and connect directly with potential customers, while also contributing to your local community.

To maximize the benefits of event sponsorship, you’ll want to do it right. Learn how hosting or sponsoring events can be an effective part of your local marketing plan and find out how to make the most of the event for your business.

Sponsor events that align with your brand

As with any marketing plan, efforts should be specifically tailored to your target audience. Sponsoring an event is no exception. The most important decision will be choosing the right event. For the partnership to have the most impact, it needs to be a good fit for your brand.

Consider Lululemon. The athletic apparel giant hosts immensely popular running events in cities across Canada including Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto. More than just a running race, these are full-scale events often with entertainment, pop-up shops, food vendors and, of course, premium post-race swag and goodies. Co-sponsors include brands that appeal to Lululemon’s target demographic — mainly women between the ages of 25-40 — like Saje, a natural wellness retailer, or Flow alkaline water, which comes in fully recyclable packing.

While any brand might jump at the chance to market itself to thousands of people riding the post-run adrenaline high, Lululemon and its sponsoring partners, as well as the vendors selling product on site, are aligned value-wise with a focus on health, overall wellness, and eco-consciousness.

Not only is it in Lululemon’s best interests to ensure that sponsoring partners reflect their brand’s values, but sponsors also benefit from access to the perfect audience for their products. It’s a symbiotic relationship that works on all levels. The right partnership ensures that your brand makes the right impression with the right audience.

Don’t feel obligated to say yes to every sponsorship request

Be selective about the events that your business sponsors. It might be difficult to say no when someone knocks on your door, but realistically, both parties will get the most benefit by investing in partnerships that share a similar brand and audience.

Having said that, it’s important to give back — even in a small way — to the local community that supports your business. You shouldn’t expect a huge ROI especially when supporting non-profit or charity events, but giving back and fostering goodwill in the greater community is incredibly important too.

How to get involved in sponsoring local events

So, what is actually expected of you as an event sponsor? Generally speaking, an event sponsor is a business or company that provides support, usually funding, to help with the planning and execution of an event in exchange for marketing exposure. Other ways to get involved may include contributing product (for a raffle or silent auction) or providing venue space to host the event. There are plenty of ways to lend your support to help get an event off the ground.

And in return, there are many ways you can leverage the partnership to gain important exposure for your company. Depending on the event, maybe you can set up a booth onsite, deliver a presentation onstage, or hand out prizes. The best results will involve more than simply having your logo appear somewhere on the website.

Promote the event on your social channels

It will also be important for both your business and the event organizer to effectively market the event on all appropriate channels — to not only promote the partnership, but to also ensure the event is well attended.

Don’t forget to post an event followup on social media. If your company installed a free furnace to a family in need, write a blog about it on your website. If you sponsored a charity gala by providing a silent auction item, post a photo with the recipient on Instagram. Consumers increasingly expect that businesses will be active in their community and give back in meaningful ways. People want to see those partnerships in action and see the real ways in which your business contributes to the betterment of the community.

Event sponsorships provide value not only to the event organizers who rely on extra funds or gifts to make their event a success, but also to the sponsors who benefit from local marketing efforts and, if nothing else, some good community mojo. Get out there and work with local partners that reflect your brand’s values and make it a regular event! It will go a long way in securing your position as a business that is committed to contributing positively to the local community.

Author: ChamberPlan.ca

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November 28, 2019
Wellness at Work

Supporting staff wellbeing in the workplace is the responsibility of every business owner. Priorities that come to mind include: paying competitive wages and offering comprehensive benefit plans, or encouraging career development opportunities through educational programming and training.

But what about mental health? Here are some mental-health focused activities, resources and strategies that can be incorporated in an employee’s wellness program:

Enlist the help of a corporate wellness provider

As increasing research supports a correlation between healthy workplaces and increased productivity, higher engagement levels, and cost savings relating to reduced absenteeism and job turnover, the number of companies offering expert programming — wellness retreats, seminars, and even private health and medical services — is on the rise .

For example, Well Street, a Toronto-based workplace health solutions provider, delivers onsite, customized wellness programs to companies nationwide. Services range from a flu prevention clinic to healthy eating seminars and keynote presentations on topics like stress and work-life balance. Flexible, customizable delivery options make it easy for businesses to provide quality wellness programming to their teams that is relevant and informative.

Organize a meditation workshop

In addition to helping achieve greater focus and mindfulness, which are helpful in today’s hectic, distraction-laden workplace, increasing research shows that there are many health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. From overall stress reduction to more successful management of physical and psychological disorders, there are a number of reasons why people are turning to meditation as a personal wellness solution.

Modern + Mindful , a mobile meditation company in Calgary, has helped companies like Lululemon, Uber, and The Forzani Group with customized meditation workshops. Some of the benefits their clients attest to include reduced stress, pain, or depression, as well as improved sleep quality, and a boost in immune response to illness.

Offer regular Mental Health First Aid training

For years now it has been fairly commonplace to have a designated fire warden, safety officer, or first aid responder in the workplace. Gaining momentum in recent years is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, which provides team members with the skills they need to respond to someone who may be either developing a mental health problem, experiencing the worsening of an existing mental health problem, or currently undergoing a mental health crisis.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada offers Mental Health First Aid training courses nationwide where participants learn how to confidently interact with others about mental health issues. In addition to providing strategies used to successfully recognize, respond to, and guide someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, MHFA in the workplace helps break down mental health stigmas and increase awareness.

Encourage and support opportunities for physical fitness

Scientific evidence has long vouched for the positive health benefits of physical exercise on the body. From cancer prevention to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and nearly everything in between, there is really nothing that exercise can’t help. Not surprisingly, evidence is mounting for the mental benefits of exercise , with positive results relating to mood enhancement, alleviation of depression, and reduction in anxiety symptoms.

The demands of daily life have changed dramatically in the last hundred years or so, with much of our time spent on pursuits that are mentally challenging, but largely sedentary and desk-bound. It has become increasingly difficult for people to make exercise a priority in their day.

Many corporate wellness programs are looking to change this mindset by offering options like corporate fitness discounts or flexible work schedules to allow employees to attend gym classes or go for a run during the day. It can be as simple as installing a bike rack to encourage staff to ride to work or offering weekly lunch-hour fitness classes in the conference room. Supporting fitness in the workplace is an important step in supporting physical and mental wellness at work.

Pet therapy

Allergies permitting, doggos in the workplace are increasingly popular, with some good research backing up the benefits . There’s just something about being greeted by a wagging tail that can completely turn your day around.

Not only are pets in the workplace known to help reduce levels of the stress-causing hormone cortisol, their presence also tends to trigger workplace interactions that would not normally take place, contributing to a boost in morale and relationship building.

Employers want their teams to do their best and be happy at work. Providing access to supportive tools and resources helps make this happen. In addition to implementing programs and initiatives, being a champion for mental health in the workplace is an important way to reduce stigma and encourage people to access help if they need it.

Author: ChamberPlan.ca

Read the original article here.

November 28, 2019
How to Choose a Business Structure: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation?

Whether you’re thinking about starting a side hustle for extra income or making the leap to becoming your own boss, there’s a lot to consider when starting a small business. One of the first decisions to make is the type of business structure you need. In Canada, your business can operate as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation.

There are pros and cons to each option, but important differences in terms of startup costs, liability, tax rates, and estate planning should be considered before making a decision. Understanding the key differences between proprietorship, partnership, and incorporation can help ensure your small business starts off on the right foot.

Sole proprietorship

In a sole proprietorship, one person operates a business without forming a partnership or corporation. Any income earned from the business is considered self-employment income and is taxed at personal income tax rates on the business owner’s personal income tax return.

Benefits of a sole proprietorship:

– Simple, inexpensive registration process

– Fairly minimal reporting requirements include:

– Annual personal tax return

– Payroll remittances and filings for any employees

– Can deduct losses from your personal income

– Can deduct expenses including prorated amounts for office and vehicle costs

– Proprietor controls all decision making and receives all profits

Disadvantages of a sole proprietorship

– As sole proprietor, you are personally liable for all debts and any other business liabilities — creditors may make claims against any business or personal assets to pay off debts

– Fewer funding opportunities and may be more challenging to raise capital to help build and grow the business

– Not easily transferable or inheritable in the event of the proprietor’s death

Partnership

Similar to a proprietorship, a partnership is unincorporated but two or more entities are partners in the business, and business decisions are agreed upon together. A partnership agreement will outline the terms of the partnership and how any disagreements or dissolution will be resolved. In the absence of such an agreement, provincial or territorial laws will determine the terms of the partnership.

Benefits of a partnership

– Partnerships enjoy many of the same advantages as a sole proprietorship including relatively low setup costs, expense deductions, minimal reporting requirements, and ability to deduct losses from personal income

– A more experienced business partner can provide valuable guidance and mentorship to a less experienced business owner

– Startup costs are shared among partners

Disadvantages of a partnership

– Consensus is required for all business decisions

– Like a proprietorship, partnerships are subject to unlimited liability — all personal and business assets can be targeted by creditors

– A partner’s liability does not end even after death or retirement for debts and obligations of the partnership that were incurred prior to the death or retirement

Corporation

Unlike a proprietorship or partnership, a corporation is a legal entity that is separate from its shareholders. As such, a corporation pays corporate income tax, which is calculated separately from the shareholders’ personal income tax.

Benefits of a corporation

– Shareholders are not personally liable for debts or obligations of the corporation

– More government funding options to help build and grow your business

– Can write off certain business expenses and may also benefit from additional tax advantages

– A corporation exists in perpetuity and ownership is transferable

Disadvantages of a corporation

– Higher startup fees which may include legal fees for articles of incorporation, federal and provincial incorporation fees

– Higher accounting fees for filing an annual corporate income tax return and any additional bookkeeping or tax planning consultancy

– Additional reporting requirements include:

– Corporate records which must be held for six years

– An annual corporate income tax return including detailed financial statements

– Payroll remittances and filings for any employees

No matter which type of business structure you choose, some common rules apply. Firstly, there’s no escaping the Canada Revenue Agency. Whether you end up paying personal tax rates or corporate tax rates, tax happens! Also, if your revenue exceeds $30,000, you will need to register for GST/HST and track all sales tax paid and collected.

Each business situation is unique and choosing between a sole proprietorship or a corporation can be a difficult decision. While tax savings, limited liability, and greater capital-raising opportunities make incorporating an appealing option, higher administrative costs, additional compliance burden, and more complex reporting requirements might lean in the favour of sole proprietorship particularly if your small business has a relatively low operating risk and a net income under $50,000.

Consulting with an accountant and/or lawyer before launching your business is a wise choice and can save you money and frustration in the long haul. A good corporate lawyer and a professional accountant that specializes in tax planning services can be valuable members of your small business team.

Author: ChamberPlan.ca

Read the original article here.

November 28, 2019
How to Create a Workplace Culture That Attracts (and Retains) TOP Talent

Corporate culture is more than shiny foosball tables and Friday fireside chats. It’s more than a weekly happy hour in the office or an office getaway. While those things all seem pretty great, what is corporate culture anyway? Corporate culture is built upon a value system; a company’s beliefs, values, ethics and method of working. Embedded within that system is the way employees are treated by their employer, from inside the workplace, to outside. This ties directly to health and wellness–in other words: employee benefits.

The foosball table? That comes next.

What is Corporate Culture

Culture is best described as the overall lifestyle of a company. Down to the heart and soul of that lifestyle.

A healthy culture is a comfortable environment in which employees are happy and can do their best work. Moreover, a healthy culture will attract more talent, because naturally, good employees want to be a part of good companies. On the flip side, an unhealthy culture breeds negativity, and can ultimately lead to complete failure for a business.

Red Flags in Corporate Culture

When was the last time you took a step back to look at your company’s culture? Here are some red flags to look out for:

Relaxed Office Culture

The office is a little too ‘lax. While many new startups are started by young millennials today, a lack of business and life experience can lead those workplaces to prioritize fun before work. Relaxed attitudes and days that start late aren’t the secrets to business success. An immature culture needs to grow up if it’s going to evolve.

Defined Company Culture

Your company perks are in-office only. Good company culture means caring for your employees even after they’ve left the office. This shows that you care for your employees as people, not only staff. Health benefits help staff to be their best selves, in and out of the office.

An old boys club mentality. On the flip side, some businesses refuse to change or accept new ideas or new people. Dated thinking and an unwillingness to keep up with the times through culture and technology are going to leave a business in the dark ages.

Foster Open Communication

The office community is lacking. If coworkers are unwilling to share information with them, your workplace may be breeding an environment of mistrust and poor communication. Furthermore, when communication spreads, so do company values. At the end of the day, you want your employees to all be working towards the same purpose, together.

Focusing Too Much on Results

The culture is based only on results. Organizations that see employee-employer relationships as only transactional – “you get a paycheque for doing your job and that should be enough” – lose talented employees who don’t feel appreciated or invested. Most people want employment that has meaning, not just money.

Does anything sound familiar? While few company cultures are absolutely perfect, most aren’t completely horrendous either. Besides, a 360-degree culture turnaround is unlikely and not necessary (or achievable – or even advisable!).

How to Improve Workplace Culture

Here are some ways to help you improve the health of your workplace environment:

Get Employees Involved in Workplace Culture

Involve your employees. Your staff plays the largest part in shaping workplace culture. In addition to letting them know about a shift in culture, ask them to help build it. Reflect on the vision of your ultimate corporate culture regularly, and ask your staff for their input on such. Many will probably have ideas about the steps necessary to achieve it. Regular open-dialogue office chats will help move those ideas forward.

Invest in Your Employees

Show your employees you care about them–long-term. It’s important to invest in your people the same way you invest in your overhead. As a result, your employees will invest in your company by working for you productively and sticking around. Caring for the health of your employees is the most effective way to do this. When they’re happy and healthy–so is your business.

Remember your vision. Has your company’s path veered away from its original destination? Maybe you’re in the midst of creating a new vision and mission and value statement.

The best way to do this is to be open and foster a good work-life balance for your employees.

Check-in With Your Employees

Re-authentication is important, and often the way a business evolves for the better. Nurture accountability and build buy-in by pulling out those statements regularly, sharing them with your employees and measuring whether your actions are aligning with your vision. In other words, check back in with the heart of your business regularly.

Show Workplace Culture Don’t Just Tell

Show, don’t tell the way. As a leader, your role is to lead the charge–whether that means a slight tweak or a major overhaul. Don’t mistake that for taking a strictly top-down approach – positive change doesn’t happen because the boss orders it. Tell your staff where you’re going, ask for their input, and make it a habit to exemplify the values that you’re striving for every single day.

If you would like to know if we can help you attract and retain top talent by adding Group Insurance Benefits to your business and strengthening the security your employees feel while at work and away – I’d love to chat.

August 31, 2019
How can a group benefits plan help my employees?

So a new employee joins the team. Their job is ultimately to help you, but what about the other way around?

Healthcare is the number one benefit employees look for in a potential employer. In fact, 77% of respondents say they wouldn’t move to a job that didn’t include health benefits. When you provide an employee with quality healthcare, they in turn feel valued and are healthier. This improves workplace happiness. In other words help your employees and in the long run they will help you.

Here are all of the ways in which a group benefits plan will help your employees:

Working for a small company can often feel like working as a contractor. Without security and corporate perks, what is the point? A benefits package can seriously up the culture game for any small startup. With the right benefits, employees can feel like they’re a part of something bigger–even in a company of say, two. Day-to-day, benefits improve the physical and mental health of employees. Research shows that people who are uninsured actually have poorer health and shortened lives. So, what is needed:

Peace of mind: Not only does a group benefits plan cover medical expenses an employee might otherwise struggle to pay out of pocket, but it provides a sense of security–mentally. If you know your health is taken care of should a worst-case scenario unfold, it’s easier to focus on the stuff that truly matters in your life-day-to-day. Moreover, there’s no financial planning for that dreaded medical emergency. Employees can simply pay their premiums through payroll deductions and know they’re taken care of.

A plan B in the case that a critical illness should prohibit their ability to work: If one of your employees were to suddenly fall ill and no longer be able to work, critical illness insurance in a group benefits plan would help meet the financial burden accompanying that illness. With this insurance, employees can choose to use the funds to pay for medical costs, basic living expenses, or anything else for which they should see fit.

Life insurance to support employees and their families: Group life insurance provides financial support to families of employees in the event of their death. Furthermore, employees are able to simply pay their premiums through payroll deductions. In addition to covering spouses and dependent children in the case of death, most life insurance plans include living benefit provisions–in other words, money-back guarantees or guaranteed returns.

Good overall coverage, at an affordable cost: The group structure of a group benefits plan, renders the cost of such cheaper than an individual plan. It also provides more comprehensive coverage than an individual plan, is more affordable, and has minimal risk. The reason? Mitigating the risk of cost over a large group leads to lower premiums for everyone, meaning less money out of your pocket.

Freedom to control their health care: With a group benefits plan like the Chamber’s Group Plan, employees are actually able to control the back-end of their benefits package as they wish through My-benefits®. This practical self-serve option offers employees personal contact with insurance agents should they have questions about their benefits, claims and much more. They can even submit claims and see when they’re eligible for their next medical check-up!

Interested in learning more about a group benefits plan for your business? Call me or fill out our free quote form.

August 31, 2019
What (good) candidates look for in an employer
“Employees don’t leave companies; they leave managers.” This statement circulates frequently in HR circles and because of that, it’s hard not to take it personally when an employee leaves your company. And oftentimes, it comes down to more than just a salary.

You could be the best manager on the planet, but the truth is that this fact still doesn’t have the power to stop an employee from eventually leaving their role should they outgrow your company and their position in that company. In any business, turnover is simply the name of the game. Regardless of all of this, employees want to feel valued by their employers. As someone in a management position, how do you demonstrate that you value your employees? One way is by offering the right benefits.

As an employer, it’s in your best interest to attract the right candidates, and it’s in your power to create the best environment so that they will not only stick around as employees but also want to do so. So, what are your prospective employees truly looking for in a new job?
1. Flexible schedules: Your employees work to live, they don’t live to work. A flexible schedule shows them that you support them in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Tip: Flexible schedules, including having work-from-home days, are known for increasing at-work productivity! With this kind of schedule, you’ll also attract powerful candidates who happen to be working parents.
2. A management team who cares about their well-being: This can tie into flexible schedules, but this point largely relates to workplace wellness initiatives. One survey found that fifty percent of employees would like to see a greater focus on well-being at their company–something to take note of. How can you demonstrate the same? A) Access to a fitness facility or an allowance towards one for their physical health. B) Access to psychological wellness services or an allowance towards such services for their mental health.
3. Opportunities for professional development: A good employee will leave if they feel they are no longer growing in their role, and as an individual. When they’re looking for a new job? They’ll seek out supplemental learning options. This can be in the form of workshops, retreats, conferences, or lunch and learn sessions.
4. Caregiver leave: If the unthinkable happens to an employee’s family member, such as a critical illness, the family will inevitably move into first place in that employee’s life. Knowing that a leave is not only accepted but encouraged by management goes a long way to demonstrate a company’s empathy.
5. Supplementary income: Are your best-performing employees rewarded for taking the initiatives that grew your annual profits through bonuses? This can be a tangible method to demonstrate that you truly appreciate the value in existing employees’ work for your business as well as a deciding factor for many goal-oriented viable candidates.
What kind of employer do you strive to be? Are you interested in providing a competitive benefits package as part of your brand? Contact me or fill out our free quote form for a customized benefits solution.
June 7, 2019