KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
NO ONE KNOWS HOW LONG THE PANDEMIC WILL CONTINUE AND DISABILITY, CRITICAL ILLNESS, LIFE, HOSPITAL EVEN ID THEFT PLANS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES
pAMELA WHITFIELD - dEC 2021 ak bIZ mAG ARTICLE ON cOVID & iNSURANCE
Change has been constant since Spring of 2020 and never was that experience more than at the workplace. With so much disruption, where would a HR professional or CFO get highly valuable, relevant and timely information to help navigate their benefit programs needs in 2022and beyond?
The Answer
With our organization as nothing is more powerful than giving away the knowledge of 25+ years in voluntary. Pamela wrote and designed the course “Voluntary Benefits and Enrollment Best Practices in the New Covid World” in summer of 2020. Immediately it was approved launched for Continuing Education (CE) for both SHRM (Society of Human Resource Manager) and the State of Alaska for Life & Health producers.
Moving the agency to Oahu, Pamela gave the (updated 2021) course to 75 Hawaii agents and brokers on July 15th and over 44 SHRM members Nov 4th.
In February of 2022, Pamela designed a new CE for both Life & Health agents/brokers in Hawaii and also for SHRM (Hawaii and Alaska). This CE focuses not on Covid, but where the workplace is now and where it’s headed. Excited to share this course in the future as this one is all about RECRUITING & RETENTION
volntary benefits course
Who should attend?
- Human Resource Managers,
- VP’s and Directors
- CFO/CEO/COO
- Benefit Brokers
- Business owners who are passionate about their employees and wish to do more without incurring any additional cost to their benefit budget.
Course outline
Section One is the “State of the Workplace” in 2022 covering topics such as the turnover tsunami, the future of remote work, who likes remote work and who doesn’t, etc. Also discussed is how the pandemic affected employees: mentally, emotionally and financially.
We will understand how the pandemic combined with inflation has meant 60% of workers live paycheck to paycheck and many won’t be able to retire.
We will also discuss long haul Covid, as well as Diversity and more
In this part, we review the history of voluntary benefits (from the 50’s to now) as well as the top five requested voluntary benefits that address financial health (disability, accident, critical illness, hospital and life).
We will learn about fresh and exciting benefits on the market now that speak to the concerns of employees such as policies such as mental health, substance abuse, telemedicine and more. We will see what portion of Critical Illness pays for which illnesses and look at how wellness benefits on plans can improve health and finalize with how an employee with $22/week can provide amazing coverage for peace of mind and financial security
Benefits communication and technology platforms are the foundation for successful “covid-compliant” enrollments. How should communication tools be used to drive participation and other neat tools that are fun, effective and on the market now.
We will learn about how the pandemic changed our buying habits and how digital enrollments are viewed as highly effective by employees.
We will learn about the technology platforms on the market and how they can enroll ALL of a company’s benefits and do so effectively and virtually
We will conclude with the Five top Benefit Trends for 2022, the importance of EMPATHY at the workplace by leadership as well as how voluntary benefits…when implemented properly can check ALL of the “boxes” in the first section: mental health, inclusion, wellness, DEI, Covid, remote work, financial education and of course, aid in recruiting and retention.
The course will end with my five recommendations for 2022
CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES
Alaska Journal of Commerce:
Better Business Bureau Recognizes Whitfield Benefit Solutions of Anchorage.
This article recognized the agency’s winner of the 2016 BBB “Torch Award for Ethics” award for Alaska businesses and how our firm won the award (with only three years in the state).
Alaska Business Journal:
Protect Employee Health, Finances and Future with Ancillary Insurance.
Pamela contributed to this article along with other leaders in the HR community and banking industry. Miss Whitfield highlights the need for products offered at the workplace to be “guaranteed to issue” such as more employees can get valuable coverage due to no health questions.
Alaska Business Magazine:
The Exorbitant Cost of Healthcare in Alaska…health insurance and the bottom line.
Pamela was a contributor, focusing on how voluntary benefits are at no cost to an employer (employees pay the premiums), how plans such as “bridge” or “gap” plans help employees with cash payments for treatment and services not covered by major medical.
Alaska Business Magazine, sole author: Pamela Whitfield:
Voluntary Benefits: An Employer’s Secret Weapon Against Covid-19.
With Covid and lockdowns in full swing, Pamela begins with article with “What if?” What if the most overlooked benefits your company could offer your employees were not only highly valuable but at no cost to your company?” Also discussed was how leaders on the front lines can use these benefits can align with an organization’s mission by providing extra protection at a time of uncertainty and virtual ways to communicate benefits.
Alaska Business Magazine once again had Pamela Whitfield contribute to their December issue which focuses on Healthcare. Ms. Whitfield contributed to the article: Risks, Rewards and Expectations – Covid 19’s impact on insurance trends.
schedule today!
Never change things by fighting the existing reality…to change something build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
Buckminister Fuller – 1895-1983 - Engineer-Architect-Futurist