Press & Interviews
EBN Benefits Think: The double-edged sword of working for a family operation
By Mariah Shields, Senior Benefits Consultant
Senior Benefits Consultant Mariah Shields talks opportunities and challenges associated with being the boss’s daughter and striking the right work-life balance. I will always be seen as the boss’s daughter, regardless of my achievements. On the other hand, I’ve been gifted an unrelenting and unwavering mentor. It’s a distinctive blend of inspiration and disintegration of work-life-balance that keeps things interesting.
Photo credit: (Adobe Stock)
Employee Benefit News – November 2024
The Power of Two: Understanding Your Hispanic Workforce
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
We just celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month, the perfect time to focus on understanding this rising — yet often underserved — segment of U.S. workers. By 2050, one-third of U.S. residents will be Spanish speakers – well-informed employers will build a work environment that values and honors this component of the labor force.
Photo credit: (Owlie Productions / Shutterstock)
North Bay Business Journal – October 2024
Benefits Think – Cultural understanding unlocks engagement of Hispanic workforces
By Rosario Avila
Our nation ranks as one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries in the world. By 2050, one-third of U.S. residents will be Spanish speakers, and all this rapid growth is reflected in the workforce.
Benefit advisers realize that Hispanic and Latino employees represent an important segment across their book of business. As this population continues to grow, the demographic shift demands a more tailored and inclusive approach to employee benefits — one that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by Hispanic workers.
Photo credit: (Adobe stock)
Employee Benefit News – September 2024
The Power of Two: Breaking down rising health care costs and options
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
As health care costs rise, organizations must remain vigilant in evaluating their options and adapting benefits program strategies.
Two popular options are fully-insured and self-insured plans. However, with double digit increases driving costs sky high, another option is gaining more interest: captive insurance arrangements. Each operates on fundamentally different principles — understanding each is crucial to optimize a long-term benefits strategy.
Photo credit: (Chompoo Suriyo / Shutterstock)
North Bay Business Journal – August 2024
The Power of Two: The Future of Employee Benefits in the North Bay
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
Health care remains one of the biggest drivers of ballooning employee benefits costs. The North Bay is one of the most expensive regions in the United States for businesses to operate. With the high costs of living, intense competition for talent, rigorous regulations around worker protections and a tight labor market, the North Bay area faces several challenges that contribute to the cost of doing business.
Photo credit: (Mel Evans / Associated Press)
North Bay Business Journal – June 2024
The Power of Two: Bridging the generational divide
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
In many workplaces, the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to employee benefits communication is the norm. However, in today’s multigenerational workforce, the norm is doing a disservice to employers and employees alike. With five distinct age groups represented in any given workforce, employers face the challenging task of engaging a diverse audience with divergent needs, preferences and communication styles.
North Bay Business Journal – May 2024
9 less-common employee perks that boost value at your workplace
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
Volunteer time off for employees, pet insurance, and cross-training opportunities can pay big dividends in keeping workers happy, according to Power of Two columnists Rosario Avila and Andrew McNeil.
While well-known perks like health insurance, 401(k) plans, and paid time off tend to grab the most attention, many lesser-known benefits fall off the radar — but would prove highly enticing to your team. These “hidden benefits” provide significant value to employees and contribute to their overall well-being and job satisfaction.
North Bay Business Journal – April 2024
The Power of Two: 10 ways to protect the heartbeat of your business
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
It’s February — the month of love. Even more importantly it’s American Heart Month — a time to focus on our cardiovascular health. We want to spread awareness about heart health and offer tips on what an employer can do to prepare for the potential of having an employee suffer a heart event or a sudden cardiac arrest — the No. 1 cause of death in the workplace.
North Bay Business Journal – February 2024
The Power of Two: The underestimated value of workplace friendships
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
As we emerge from the pandemic, work life and personal life have clearly become increasingly blurred in the modern workplace. Remote work arrangements and “always-connected” technology mean many employees spend more waking hours engaged with their jobs than in previous times. Workplace friendships have often been seen by many as unprofessional or unnecessary distractions. With that said, research and expert opinion continue to show us the benefits associated with forged bonds between co-workers, both for individuals and organizations.
North Bay Business Journal – January 2024
The Power of Two: Is there a solution to health insurance rate increases?
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
The headlines are everywhere — the cost of employer-sponsored health care insurance is soaring. According to the annual Kaiser Family Foundation survey of more than 2,000 U.S. employers, the average employer-sponsored health insurance premium in the U.S. rose 7% as compared with a 1% increase last year.
North Bay Business Journal – November 2023