Claim OwnershipFriends with Employee Benefits
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The podcast that tackles trending topics in the employee benefits and HR world… and hopefully entertains along the way. Tune in biweekly to stay informed of the latest trends and industry insights to help you develop an exceptional workplace.
74 Episodes
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In this episode, host Jeff Cross speaks with Brian Cutler, CEO of Loureiro Engineering, an employee-owned global engineering company based in Plainville, Connecticut. Brian shares the compelling story behind Loureiro Engineering's decision to transition from a traditional group health insurance plan to an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA after several years of high renewals. The two get into the benefits and challenges of implementing an ICHRA, the steps his team took to make the switch, and how this change is supporting both the company’s bottom line and its people. He shares the mistakes he made that led him to going down the ICHRA path and what he'd share with other companies who find themselves in a similar situation. If you’re a small or mid-sized business leader searching for better ways to offer health coverage—this episode is for you. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Did you know that caregiving is the second leading reason employees leave the workforce, right after retirement?* In this insightful episode, host Jeff Cross sits down with George Nightingale and Adriana Medina from Homethrive to shine a light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by working caregivers. The conversation reveals how many employees don’t even realize they’re caregivers — leading to hidden effects on productivity, wellbeing, and financial health. Together, these three explore why employers frequently underestimate the prevalence of caregiving among their teams and discuss the significant advantages of offering support systems like Homethrive. Tune in to discover practical strategies for recognizing and supporting caregivers in your organization, and learn how proactive solutions can benefit both employees and employers alike. Music By: Colin Cross Music*Harvard Business School’s Project on Managing the Future of Work report.
In this episode, we sit down with Darrin Tulley, Fractional Operating and People Officer at Koster Keunen, a global manufacturer of waxes. During this conversation, we dive into the world of fractional work—a growing trend that’s changing how companies and professionals connect. Darrin explains why more organizations are turning to fractional roles, and how this approach brings fresh talent, greater engagement, and flexibility for everyone involved. And if you’re passionate about workplace culture, you won’t want to miss Darrin’s insights on building a “people-first” organization. He draws powerful parallels between the productivity of a healthy “beehive” and the success of a thriving workforce, showing us how active listening, genuine empathy, and consistent action can transform a company from the inside out.Music By: Colin Cross Music
We recently sat down with Daniel Lawhon, the driving force behind First Tracks Health. Daniel shares his unique journey and sheds light on the current mental health landscape, exploring why anxiety and depression are on the rise and what employers can do to support their teams. Jeff Cross and Daniel dive deep into the challenges of accessing quality, affordable care, and how First Tracks Health is pioneering solutions for treatment-resistant mental health conditions. From the debate over medication versus holistic approaches to practical strategies employers can implement today, this episode is packed with actionable insights and fresh perspectives. Whether you’re an HR leader, a business owner, or simply passionate about mental wellness, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to foster a healthier, more resilient workplace.Music By: Colin Cross Music
John Lufburrow, Chief Revenue Officer at ReviveHealth, joins Jeff Cross on the podcast to discuss how employers can move past the traditional EAP programs to drive greater impact on their workforces' mental health. From their successful virtual care clinic solution to mental health Rx (not what you think it is!) and weight health vs. weight loss, these two have a great conversation around how a well-designed mental health strategy is fundamental to an organization's ability to thrive. If you're curious how to support your employees' mental health where they need it most, this episode is for you.Music By: Colin Cross Music
According to the 2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey by Business Group on Health, 27% of an employer's healthcare spending was due to pharmacy costs in 2023, up from 21% in 2021. And it's not slowing down anytime soon as this becomes one of the fastest-growing expense categories for businesses.To understand why pharmacy costs continue to rise, we invited Richard Lo, Director of Clinical Services on OneDigital's Pharmacy Consulting team, to help our listeners navigate the intricate world of pharmacy benefits. From GLP-1s rise on the scene as a weight loss drug and the highly-debated rebate game to the impact tariffs may have on medications, host Jeff Cross and Richard tackle almost every topic employers are concerned about when it comes to their pharmacy plans. The two also dive into how drug pricing works and innovative strategies employers have started to implement to manage and optimize their pharmacy benefit spend. If you're a business leader looking to optimize your pharmacy benefits and get a better handle on the pharmaceutical industry overall, this episode is packed with valuable insights and information to take back to your organization.Music By: Colin Cross Music
We sat down with Dr. Brian Williams, a family medicine physician in Mystic, Connecticut, to get his perspective on the current healthcare system in America and how we, as individuals, can live healthier lifestyles as well as create healthier workplaces for our employees. During this discussion, we delve into why we don't see ads for broccoli or fish on TV, the controversial role GLP-1s play in weight management, and what the state of primary care is in this country. We also ask Dr. Williams how we can shift from a reactive sick-care model to a proactive well-care system and what actionable steps we can take, both individually and collectively, to promote healthier habits. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that aims to inspire healthier lifestyles and systemic change.Music By: Colin Cross Music
Friends with Employee Benefits is back with another season and this time, we're focused on one underlying theme: help employers contain their healthcare cost by, among other things, helping their employees live healthier lifestyles. This season, we’re tackling the biggest challenges in healthcare today: the obesity crisis, the rise of GLP-1s medications and skyrocketing pharmacy costs. But we’re not stopping there. We’re diving into financial, mental and physical health – the mind-body connection, the financial stress-health link, and why America’s healthcare system focuses on sick care instead of prevention – and how that needs to change. We’re going to be sitting down with doctors, CEOs and HR professionals, pharmacy consultants, forward-thinking tech businesses, legislators and more – all with one goal – to answer the question: how are we impacting the health of our employees, and in turn, the health of the business. If you’re ready for real talk, great insights, and practical solutions as it relates to all things healthcare, this season is for you. Tune in and let’s rethink healthcare – together! Music By: Colin Cross Music
In today’s competitive job market, finding skilled workers has become a pressing challenge for employers across various industries. Jim Bologa, President and CEO at Porter & Chester Institute, joins Jeff Cross to share valuable insights and strategies to help bridge the skills gap. The two speak on workforce shortages and explore how Porter & Chester works with employers across New England to help solve this problem. Music By: Colin Cross Music
100% retention in 24 months in this labor market? Sounds impossible - but that's been the reality for The Walker Group and co-CEO, Jessica Rich, who over the past year helped her organization turn to a Perpetual Purpose Trust (PPT) ownership structure. PPT for short, made most popular by Patagonia recently turning to this structure in 2022, legally empowers a company to organize around its purpose, rather than just profit. In this episode, Jeff Cross, podcast host, and Jessica Rich dive into why the Walker Group looked into PPT, what it has done for their business, their employees, and the community as well as why employers are reaching out to learn more about this ownership structure. Join Jessica and her team for a virtual panel discussion on Wednesday, September 25th, from 12-1 PM EST on their transition to a Perpetual Purpose Trust. Click here to get more details!Check out The Walker Group's website for more details on PPT: https://www.thewalkergroup.com/perpetual-purpose-trustMusic By: Colin Cross Music
Generative AI is, and will continue, to transform the American Workplace. How can HR and business leaders prepare for this change?Vinay Gidwaney, Chief Product Officer and our go-to AI expert at OneDigital, joins Host Jeff Cross, Client Executive, for a discussion around artificial intelligence (AI) - including what it is, where we currently stand with AI, how it's impacting the workplace and what employers can do to protect their business and their people, while also taking advantage of the opportunities that come with new technology. 45 minutes packed with what you can expect to continue to see from AI, what AI will never replace and how those who take advantage now will be well positioned in the future. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Mental health awareness is more than just one month out of the year. It's a year-round opportunity to continue to show up for your employees so they can do their best work and live their best life. And that's how Lisa Harris, Chief People Officer, and Jody Breault, Manager of Benefits and Wellness at VEIC, view their workforce strategy. In this conversation, host Jeff Cross chats with Lisa and Jody about the innovative ways they are supporting their employees' mental health and wellbeing to create a positive workplace environment. Topics include their mental health initiatives, "focus + finish Fridays," employee engagement ideas for a remote workforce, and leadership buy-in. Music By: Colin Cross Music
With the workforce becoming increasingly diverse year over year, employers are struggling with finding the right type of benefits that fit all their employees' needs. But there's one benefit that's ranked as the second most valuable employee benefit among all age groups, demographics, and industries: lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs). Tune into this episode as the host and guests dive into what LSA's are, why they are gaining traction amongst many different types of employers, how they work, and the success stories - directly from an employer who's leveraging them. Music By: Colin Cross Music
In this quick hit episode, we'll cover why SECURE 2.0 was created, what the impact will mean for your organization + your people, what deadlines are approaching, and what employers should be thinking about now to implement in the future. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. Any tax advice contained herein is of a general nature. You should seek specific advice from your tax professional before pursuing any idea contemplated herein.Music By: Colin Cross Music
In this episode, Host Jeff Cross is joined by Travis Dommert, SVP of Talent at OneDigital, for a candid conversation around why retaining your employees is not the answer when an organization is building their workforce strategy. Travis challenges the status quo by identifying how changing one word can completey alter the way leaders show up for their people and how employees view their managers - in the best way. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Paul LaVoie, Chief Manufacturing Officer for the State of Connecticut, joins Host Jeff Cross for a conversation about the state of manufacturing in CT and the impact the current workplace challenges are having on this. The two dive into topics such as staffing, the great resignation, the impact of a recession, bringing more work to CT and more. If you are a business leader in the CT manufacturing space, you do not want to miss this episode. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Before you press play, make sure you go back to Part 1 released on January 10th to hear the first part of this conversation between Host Jeff Cross and David Tate.Being able to promote accountability is essential for organizational success. But the realities of how work has changed demand a new approach to accountability that supports results, people, and a culture of continuous improvement. Host Jeff Cross sat down with David Tate, Psychologist, Executive Coach, Professor at Yale, and Co-Author of his recently released book, "Conscious Accountability", to discuss why accountability is so important and how can leaders can leverage this idea of "conscious accountability" to make their organization more effective and a better place to work. An episode that is full of golden nuggets and great insights - perfect for any employer looking to make their business a destination workplace. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Being able to promote accountability is essential for organizational success. But the realities of how work has changed demand a new approach to accountability that supports results, people, and a culture of continuous improvement. Host Jeff Cross sat down with David Tate, Psychologist, Executive Coach, Professor at Yale, and Co-Author of his recently released book, "Conscious Accountability", to discuss why accountability is so important and how can leaders can leverage this idea of "conscious accountability" to make their organization more effective and a better place to work. It was such a great conversation that we had to split it into 2 parts - tune into to part 1 now! Music By: Colin Cross Music
With being almost a full year into the new Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave program, we decided to sit down with a CT-based employer to find out how things are going. Kate Pikul, HR Director at Avid Marketing, shares her experiences with the state plan, how her team and employees are finding the process, what hurdles they are still facing and what's next as they look at the private plan options. This 40-minute episode is packed full of great insight into the CT PFML program - take a listen and let us know what you think!For more information on CT PFML, check out our website here: https://www.onedigital.com/ct-paid-leave/ Music By: Colin Cross Music
Rachel Waldmann, Sr. Manager of Employee Experience at Privy, joined us this week to discuss the shift we are seeing from the term "Human Resources" to this idea of the People Experience and how employees are expecting more from their employers, brought on by the pandemic and the Great Resignation. The two also get into this idea of being happy at work; why employers should care about their employee's happiness level and ways that HR professionals and other leaders in the organization can get their teammates more engaged at work. Lastly, Host Jeff Cross asks Rachel where she sees the future of HR heading. Music By: Colin Cross Music
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