A Minnesota manufacturer with more than 400 employees made the decision to become the employer of choice in its community and gain many related advantages, such as improved employee recruiting and retention, better morale and productivity, and reduced costs. With a focus on results, they improved employee health and reduced workplace injuries.

With the help of innovative partnerships, on-site and near-site clinics are becoming available to more employers. In northeast Wisconsin, Appleton School District and the City of Appleton are leading the way. Officially named the Connecting Care Clinic, this resource has been hugely popular since it opened in October 2016.

Business Insurance Consultant Jim Silesky recently had an opportunity to work with a client that received an award for Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) Deal of the Year in the $10 to $25 million category. Silesky needed to apply expertise that stretched beyond insurance and into the multitude of business issues that organizations face when engaging in M&A deals.

It was much more than a traditional weight-loss program that inspired Karen Garvey to develop a world-class wellness initiative. After the program changed her own life significantly, Garvey was inspired to expand the wellness program within ThedaCare as well as to other employers and the general public.

Learn how this manufacturer improves employee satisfaction and retention by reaching over 360 employees in 7 facilities with total compensation statements. The results: improved employee satisfaction, loyalty, morale and productivity. 

Facing rising health insurance costs and healthcare reform mandates, Elmbrook School District implemented a new strategic plan that included an employee healthcare clinic and strong employee engagement. The results include a projected reduction in healthcare costs, superior patient care and high employee satisfaction.

“The saying, ‘If life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’ applies perfectly to Hennepin County,” says Jon Heidorn, CEBS, senior benefits consultant, SVP. “The story of the county’s health plan is dramatic and groundbreaking. A dreadful situation has turned very positive in a relatively short time, with some hard work and a solid strategy.”

Foth Companies, headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., understands the link between the company’s success and the well-being of its employees. Implementing a wellness program called “Workin’ Well” featuring health risk assessments (HRAs) is one way the company is demonstrating its commitment to employees. 

At Vail Place, a nonprofit agency providing mental health recovery services, the role of human resources was changing. Vail Place has two Minnesota locations, one in Hopkins and one in Minneapolis. “Over the past few years, our people have needed to learn new roles,” says Executive Director Vicky Couillard, “while our organization faced a lot of new responsibilities.

Like Wrightstown Community School District Superintendent Carla Buboltz, many civic leaders — as well as business owners and executives — are seeing their job descriptions evolve. Healthcare reform, along with escalating health insurance costs, are demanding more of their attention than ever before. A survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are now the top concern for organizations, edging out general uncertainty about the U.S. economy.