Promote Employee Strengths: Ask What They Want

By Principal, Mariah Shields

Many look at developing employees from an HR perspective: an employee is doing well, their manager lets HR know and together they create a new job description with increased functions, develop a promotional level, clear a payroll increase with finance and then let the employee know. But in that process, you’ve overlooked two game-changing ideas.  Read article here…

This Employee Benefit Advisor interview from September 2016 discusses our unique Umbrella partnership program that gives a lifeline to small CA brokerages – the interview is with founding partners Keith McNeil & Jordan Shields. The program is a comprehensive system for handling renewals and realistic succession plans for owners, their employees and clients and has expanded ABG’s reach and client base across California.

 Read entire article here…

This Employee Benefit Advisor article from October 2016 examines workplace culture as a needed new benefit. EBA interviews Andrew McNeil, Principal about the new movement to gain and retain quality team members in an environment that they want to see, a caring workplace culture.

Read entire article here…

Casual dress becomes the workplace norm – an interview with Keith and Andrew McNeil

We may have Mark Zuckerberg to thank for bringing the hoodie into the workplace, but less formal attire has been creeping past casual Friday to include the rest of the week in even the most formal of offices. According to new research, 50 percent of senior managers said employees wear less formal clothing than they did five years ago. Keith McNeil is a partner at Arrow Benefits, an insurance office in Petaluma with about 30 employees. After 30 years of wearing a suit, he quit wearing one every day two years ago. Read article here…

A Fresh Look at Benefits: What You Need to Know
by Stephen McNeil, GBA

You’re a brand new human resources director and you’ve been reviewing the benefits your company offers its employees. You’re immediately curious about several points: “Why is there no PPO (preferred provider organization) option to offer out-of-network benefits? Why aren’t we offering a vision plan? Should we be outsourcing our benefits administration?” These are great questions that aren’t asked nearly asked enough.  Read article here…

NorthBay biz Magazine asked business & community leaders to share their picks for young people making a difference & our Andrew McNeil, principal was chosen…

Andrew has led Arrow in embracing the concept of shifting his own company’s culture and is leading the charge by helping other employers do the same. His efforts resulted in many positive changes and are attracting a lot of promising talent to the employers he serves. Andrew believes that a unique company culture is what will attract and retain the workforce of the future.

Millennials want to feel good about where they work, believe in the purpose and mission of their employer, feel appreciated and have fun at the same time. To many millennials, this is worth more than money and traditional benefits. Companies late in figuring this out will have a hard time competing for the workforce they need. —Karen Alary, the Personnel Perspective

Article about Sonoma chapter co-founder & chair, Principal, Mariah Shields non-profit  – 100 Sonoma!

The concept is simple: Gather 100 people and have each one bring $100 to donate to a worthy nonprofit organization; invite three to five eligible nonprofits to present at the meeting; each nonprofit provides a one person, four- to five-minute oral presentation – each attending member of the giving group has one vote and must provide their $100 donation regardless of what organization wins; the nonprofit that secures the most votes is gifted the entire amount raised. Read entire article here…

Top 3 Questions to Make the Most out of your Dental Plan – by Jennifer Wardell & Stephen McNeil

For many dental patients, dental insurance annual maximums replenish on January 1.  To make sure you get the most bang for your buck on your dental plan, we recommend you ask these three vital questions before having any upcoming procedures.

Arrow Benefits Group wins Community Philanthropy Award!

Giving back to the community where employees live and work is a hallmark of the Arrow Benefits Group. Arrow supported a number of nonprofits by contributing $100,000 in 2016. Many of the company’s 32 employees donate their time as volunteers, and managers and the ownership team have created innovative wellness programs while becoming personally involved. Arrow’s leaders are actively engaged in a variety of local projects in and around Petaluma, including portions of southern Sonoma County and northern Marin County. Read entire article here…

Arrow’s Wellness Initiative CPR/First-aid community classes in the News!

Employee Benefit Advisor Magazine highlights, in this article from April 2017, the First aid classes offered on a quarterly basis to the community for free. Interview also talks about the impact of the classes and what it means to the community to have them available.

Read entire article here…