Employee Benefits

Employee benefits are a critical driver for businesses today.  There are many different programs and benefits that employers may offer to their employees.  At Fred C. Church we can help you evaluate the programs that you currently offer or may want to offer in the future.  We may be able to find more cost effective alternatives to better serve your business needs and the needs of your employees.

The Employee Benefit Practice was formed in the early 1980’s to serve the expanding needs of our clients. The service model formed in the Commercial Line Practice has been carried through to the Employee Benefits Teams. Our growing team currently consists of 11 employee benefit professionals solely dedicated to guiding our clients through the ever changing benefits landscape.

Over the years the Employee Benefit Practice has expanded to address the complexities of the employee benefits arena. As benefits administration, cost and choice continues to explode, the Practice has met these changing needs by increasing staff and recruiting specialized talent. 

The Practice consists of four distinct areas: Account Management, Communications, Wellness and Compliance. Each specialty was designed through constant monitoring of our clients’ needs, response to changing legislative trends and acknowledgment of the need for positive employee behaviors to shift health care trend.

Account Management

As the role of the Human Resource Manager continues to expand, providing a reliable resource for employee benefits is imperative to maintain sanity. The Account Manager serves as the conduit to the insurance coverage. The role encompasses all aspects of plan design, maintenance, renewal and marketing. The Manager acts as designer, negotiator, problem solver and (when needed) enforcer, thereby allowing Human Resources to focus on other imperative aspects of the role. The Account Management team is constantly training internally and externally, streamlining processes and collaborating with peers to ensure the programs and benefits brought to clients are cost effective, administratively feasible and competitive.

Communications

Recent employee studies reflect an inherent lack of understanding of benefit choices.  As programs are redesigned through carrier change, legislation or financial necessity, Human Resources is tasked with conveying the message to staff. Communicating benefits is an art and the Communications Practice constructs comprehensive, accurate and understandable materials tailored to the client’s population. Many mediums are available including web portals, posters, flyers, mailers and payroll stuffers.

Wellness

According to some in the health care industry—wellness programs are the final frontier. Changing employee behavior is possibly the only solution to create a shift in the health care cost trend. Our Wellness Practice’s years of experience and credentials facilitate the creation of programs that meet the needs of Human Resources, Finance and employees.  In its infancy, wellness initiatives were generally formulated around nutrition and fitness. Over time, the correlations between finances, stress and family to health habits (and productivity) cannot be ignored.  Our practice addresses all of these areas and customizes solutions based on the wants and needs of employees. No matter what the budget, the Wellness Director provides solutions to meet the goals of the organization.

Compliance

Our elected officials are constantly changing the rules and regulations associated with benefit plans. Whether on a federal or state level, employers are tasked with maintaining compliance for a variety of regulations from an alphabet soup of agencies. The Vice President of Compliance is tasked with monitoring, dissecting and distributing the various requirements to clients. The Practice provides Compliance Audits to mirror a Department of Labor or IRS audit, checklists to maintain compliance throughout the year, seminars on timely topics and training for all levels of expertise. The Practice is available for assistance with employer specific situations and works with a team of ERISA and labor attorneys to ensure proper advice.

 

Types of Group Insurance:

  • Group Medical
  • Group Dental
  • Life and Disability
  • Long Term Care
  • Payroll Deductions – Voluntary Insurance Products
  • Corporate Wellness Programs
  • Regulatory & Compliance

 

For more information contact:

John C. Reilly, Senior Vice President

jcreilly@fredcchurch.com or 978-322-7244