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When’s the Best Time to Choose an Employee Benefits Broker?

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Open enrollment is now over and we hope you’ve chosen a benefits package that works well for your team. However, if you found the process of choosing the right benefits tedious, you’re not alone. With so many options in the market, you might be looking for an Employee Benefits Broker to guide you through and help you make smarter decisions. You might be thinking “I’ll just wait until the next open enrollment to choose a great Employee Benefits Broker”. Here are a few reasons why we’d advise against that: 

Don’t wait until the last minute and scramble ahead of Open Enrollment.

Before you know it, Open Enrollment is just around the corner. Waiting until the last minute can really cost you because you may not have time to carefully compare and contrast plans. Or worse, you opt to renew what you already have without taking a hard look at your other options. Choosing a broker to partner with well ahead of enrollment cuts down on your stress and allows you to build a benefits package that works best for your team. Plus, you’ll rest easy knowing they’ve found you the lowest cost plan in the market. 

You want to save money and choose the best possible plan for your team.

If you don’t have a Benefits Broker, you may completely miss out on cost-saving opportunities, new plan updates, or simple ways to make your benefits package more appealing to your employees. Having an ongoing advisory relationship with your broker means they can give you a better evaluation of your current plan and help you eliminate plans that aren’t as effective.

Every broker gets paid the same 5%.

Now that you’ve decided on working with a great broker, be aware that not every broker is created equal BUT all brokers cost you the same amount. You should shop for a broker just like you shop for anything else—when you buy a TV, you shop around for the best quality at the best value. Ask yourself: Am I getting the best value for my money when it comes to my Employee Benefits Broker? The best and worst health brokers get paid exactly the same percentage so make sure you’re getting one who gives you the best value: high advisory support and data driven tools to help you with your business. 

You’re not just choosing a Broker. You’re choosing an advisor. 

In looking for the right Employee Benefits Broker, remember you’re not just choosing someone to manage your benefits, you’re choosing a long term advisor. When you work with CorpStrat, you get a number of value added services—we essentially become an extension of your HR team. We also have a bevy of tools that can help you choose the right plan, save money, communicate and deliver the plans to your employees, and remain compliant. A good Broker has your back, you don’t just hear from us when it’s time for enrollment, we’ll reach out to you with answers before you even think to ask the question. You’ll never have to call the carrier, we’ll solve any claim issues and billing issues. We’re always looking for how to better manage these plans and better serve you. 

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Looking for an Employee Benefits Broker? We can help with that. Schedule a FREE 30 minute consultation with us today. 

Ensure That Your California Business Is Compliant

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Proposed HR Compliance Laws

California law makers are currently reviewing several proposed laws that effect employers of all sizes (and not necessarily in a good way.)  The following laws are likely to become effective within the next 12 months.

  • Paid Sick Leave Expansion (AB 2841) – This bill would expand the current paid sick leave law on the books per county to 10 days (80 hours) of paid sick leave.
  • Employment Protection for Medical Marijuana Users (AB 2069) – This bill would amend the Fair Employment and Housing Act to make it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to take adverse action against an applicant or employee. All because of a positive drug test for marijuana (by a medical marijuana cold holder) or because of one’s status as a medical marijuana card holder.

[An employer may still discipline an employee for being under the influence while working or being on the employer’s property. Key change relates to the area of employee accommodations. Exceptions would be made from employers who would lose a license or monetary benefit under federal law.]

[Read more…] about Ensure That Your California Business Is Compliant

How to Deliver Unbeatable Customer Experience

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What does great service really mean?

A great product or service is the first half of a successful business – great customer service is the better half of a successful business. Does the mention of a company name trigger good feelings from a customer? When customer service evolves into an amazing customer experience, the answer to that question is a resounding ‘Yes!’ A successful business shapes the customers’ experience by embedding a fundamental value proposition in offerings, but a satisfactory experience just isn’t good enough for long-term success.

Go above and beyond

So what is great customer service? The definition is different for everyone –  to some, it is as simple as solving problems and offering solutions in an expedient manner. To others, it means overall politeness from those who represent the company. In other organizations it’s defined as a company’s willingness to give their customers, ‘the customer is always right’ approach, no matter how unreasonable their demands may be.

If you invest in your customers, they will invest in you

The human elements of customer service are what really define great customer service…doing everything one can to please, protect, enrich, and value the customer. At the end of the day, every business should be built around how to deliver an extraordinary customer experience.

To achieve a truly value-based and positive customer experience, here are the four touchstones every company should be implementing:

  1. Be responsive – Customers hate repeating themselves, so being responsive across social media platforms, mobile applications, and engaging web pages is increasing in importance as channels expand.
  2. Treat customers with a friendly, helpful attitude – Lousy customer service is the number one reason people choose to stop engaging with a company. Simply put, happy customers remain loyal.
  3. Quality communication and services – With today’s technology, every business can offer personalized connections that leave people more than satisfied and with confidence that strengthens brand loyalty.
  4. Build trust – Transparency goes a long way by showing clients that they can lean on your processes and communication to steer them in the right direction.

Partners at CorpStrat

At CorpStrat, we deliver the CorpStrat Gold Standard, which is our version of a customer service experience. This is comprised of 5 values:

  • Teamwork – we work together to achieve the best outcomes for our clients
  • Great Attitude – we bring positive energy to every interaction
  • Client Interest First – All of our actions are guided by achieving our clients’ objectives
  • CorpStrat Golden Rule – we show up on time, finish what we start, do what we say, and demonstrate our gratefulness
  • Passionate Learners – We are constantly increasing our knowledge and gaining wisdom

And most importantly, when it comes to our Gold Standard…

We know it, we show it, we own it.

How To Evaluate The Right Benefits Broker: 6 Important Questions To Ask Yourself

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Choosing the right broker can be a daunting task. While all benefits brokers have access to the same carriers and rates, there are value-added services that a skilled benefits broker will also provide; usually at little, or no additional cost. It’s important to take the time to find the right benefits broker for your company’s needs.

To get the most out of your broker partnership, ask yourself these 6 important questions:

1.)  Are you up-to-date on the latest health care reform regulations, receive guidance and the latest developments?

Compliance concerns continue to increase for businesses. Between ERISA and payroll taxes, maintaining compliance is becoming more difficult and frustrating for companies. Here, a benefits broker can become the compliance officer for its clients.

2.)  Do you have support during your open enrollment that includes educational materials, meetings, and other communications?

There is a lot that can go wrong during open enrollment periods and things can get hectic, especially in the coming years as health care reform and political turmoil spiral. Benefit brokers are there to help guide you through the process to make as seamless as possible.

3.)  Who do you call when you’re faced with a complex question from a former employee about COBRA coverage?

 Sure, you can try calling the U.S. Labor Department or the Internal Revenue Service office, but the most effective way to handle their questions, would be to consider calling upon insurance brokers. These skilled and certified professionals will eliminate the painful task of navigating COBRA coverage for existing and former employees.

4.)  Do you know how other companies of your size and demographics are providing benefits to their employees so that you can remain competitive?

In many cases, employers must offer health care in order to remain competitive with other businesses for the most talented employees and avoid fines imposed by health care reform. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to offer adequate health coverage or be subject to assessment if their employees receive premium tax credits to purchase their own insurance.

5.)  Are you aware of voluntary and workplace benefits that you can offer without adding significant cost on your end?

Be strategic about cost saving voluntary benefits. Voluntary benefits have long been a relatively simple and inexpensive way to expand the benefits a company can offer employees. With out-of-pocket medical costs growing into the tens of thousands of dollars, voluntary benefits can extend this type of financial protection to health care.

6.)  How do you educate employees about how to make the most out of their benefits and do you have an online platform to access?

Education, especially when it comes to ones’ health is especially important. By explaining and guiding your employees on the different benefit plans offered, it can help them appreciate having access to coverage in the first place. But to really help employees feel comfortable with their benefit plans, we strongly suggest providing ongoing and consistent education throughout the year.

The above is only a sliver of the value-added services your benefits broker should offer. If your current broker isn’t providing all the above, feel free to reach out to us. We’re a full-service brokerage firm offering insurance, technology, and compliance solutions for all facets of your business

Ask us how you can spend less time on the broadening workload of benefits enrollment, payroll, & compliance and more time on growing your business. Contact us today, or learn more about CorpStrat HR and CorpStrat Payroll.

Lief Organics Leaf Labs

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Lief Organics, is a Valencia-based wholesaler of raw nutrients and ingredients for the natural foods and supplement industry. The company just relocated their manufacturing and distributing to new facilities, with a staff of over 100 and a robust sales team growing to $30 million in sales, Lief needed more space.

Lief Organics has experienced amazing growth by creating an environment that attracts high-level talent, an energetic and amazing workspace, and by delivering high-touch employee benefits through CorpStrat.

Adel Villalobos, The President and CEO was born with a knack for 2 things; science and baseball. He would eventually use baseball as his motivation to attend California State University Northridge, to obtain his degree in Biochemistry and Nutrition. Once enrolled, Adel further realized his passion for science and decided to focus less on his baseball mitt and more on garnering any experience he can get in what was then a relatively new and burgeoning Nutraceutical Industry.

He eventually landed a part-time job as a Customer Service Rep with a company called Natrol. It was at Natrol, where the seed of eventually starting his own company was planted. Adel, was eager to learn and was willing to try his hand in various departments at Natrol, from Customer Service to QC Lab Tech to Marketing, Product Development and even Legal. After moving around all the departments at Natrol, Adel knew what his next step needed to be, and that was to try to make it on his own as a leader in an industry that he has grown to love. In 2008, Adel would eventually go on to start Lief. At the time, equipped with only big dreams and humble beginnings, have now grown into a 140,000 sq. ft. Contract Manufacturing Facility in Valencia California, just 20 minutes north from his home that he shares with his wife and 2 children.

“I love being a part of the professional and personal growth that happens when you are in the Health Sector. Our industry attracts great people. Whether it is our staff or our clients. And I am committed to building great relationships and spreading quality supplements worldwide.”

Lief’s VP, Victor Leyson, has been working with CorpStrat for nearly 11 years, Lief’s employees receive employee benefits, payroll, and communicate with their employer through CorpStratHR robust Human Resource Management System The HR platform that delivers a “hire through fire” cloud-based way for companies to manage their people and their employment lifespan. “CorpStrat has been a key advisor and catalyst for our growth and unusual amazing advocate for our company” says Leyson. “I value CorpStrat as my one stop shop for guidance and honest /sound advice on all our benefits and Insurance needs from a more global level.”

Please contact us for more information or questions regarding your HR needs.

How CorpStrat Helps Employers Manage Open Enrollment

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Open enrollment season is upon us and if you are like most employers, you’d like to bury your head in the sand and pretend that it’s not happening.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment season occurs annually and is the time when your employee benefit plans renew.  During this time, you, as the employer, should reevaluate your plan offerings and employer contribution.  This is the time to choose a benefits package for the new plan year that balances cost and value.  In addition, carriers typically implement rate and benefit changes during open enrollment.

This all needs to then be communicated and rolled-out to employees.  As employer-sponsored benefits transition to more voluntary, employee-paid or employee-subsidized offerings, employees must assume more control in making smart decision.  Benefit information should be provided and communicated to employees in an easy to understand way.

All in all, this is typically a 60 – 90-day process and can become quite cumbersome.

How a Cutting Edge Broker Can Facilitate the Process

This is where an OUTSTANDING benefits broker comes into play.  Leave it up to the team at CorpStrat to make the open enrollment process smooth for both you and your employees.

Following are just some of the tasks CorpStrat’s Employee Benefits Specialists can handle for you during open enrollment:

  • Collect, negotiate and communicate the renewal specifics to you, the employer
  • Shop the insurance market to ensure your company is set-up with the benefits that fit your needs, at the most competitive rates
  • Present clear options, discuss each and make a recommendation of how we suggest you should proceed for the upcoming plan year
  • ALWAYS ensure you are in compliance with benefit mandates
  • Communicate all changes and options to your employees in an easy to understand manner
  • Answer all questions and concerns employees may have – ‘handhold’ them through the process
  • Process all changes and follow-up until all are completed

Working with CorpStrat will help you develop a strategic benefits package that works for your budget and offers attractive options to your employees. We can also give you access to educational materials for your employees as you launch your new or improved benefits package. Contact us at 800-914-3564 or send an email today.