Date
December 15, 2024
Client
Pets Plus
Category
Retail
Employees
75
Overview
A Pets Plus franchise owner with three locations and 75 employees, including 20 part-time staff, needed a benefits strategy that could attract and retain employees without driving up costs. The workforce leaned younger, and many employees had little to no prior experience with benefits enrollment. The owner wanted a competitive package that would meet the needs of both full-time and part-time staff, but traditional group health plans were proving too expensive and restrictive.
This is exactly the type of challenge where Benni’s mix of consulting, technology, and health-focused benefits can create a sustainable, modern solution. Our approach would deliver meaningful support for employees while keeping costs predictable for the employer.
Process & Challenge
The franchise owner faced three major challenges: affordability, low participation in traditional benefits, and the need to design perks that resonated with a younger retail workforce. Many employees were hourly associates who valued flexible, affordable coverage but weren’t interested in complicated or high-cost insurance plans. At the same time, the employer needed consistency across three locations and a program that wouldn’t overwhelm HR with administration.
Benni’s consulting process would start with a demographic and cost analysis. Because not all employees were likely to enroll in major medical coverage, we would recommend an ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) strategy. This model would give the employer predictable costs while giving employees funds to apply toward the ACA-compliant health plan of their choice ensuring flexibility without locking the company into high group premiums.
To make the program more engaging, we would layer in specialty benefits aligned with the company culture. For a pet retail business, pet insurance is a natural fit and an instant morale booster. Adding dental, vision, mental health, and telehealth services at no cost to employees or the employer would further increase perceived value, helping the company compete with larger retailers while staying on budget.
Because many employees worry about the financial risks of high-deductible health plans, we would also incorporate accident insurance to help offset out-of-pocket costs. This additional protection provides peace of mind, especially for younger workers who may not otherwise prioritize insurance coverage.
Finally, to simplify administration, we would implement our partner software Gathr* enrollment platform at no cost. Gathr* allows employees to review and enroll in benefits directly from their phones and gives HR real-time access to participation data across all three stores. Combined with one-on-one counseling sessions and group education meetings, employees would feel supported in making their decisions—eliminating confusion and boosting participation.
Summary
By combining consulting, technology, and affordable health-focused solutions, Benni’s approach would allow this franchise owner to build a competitive benefits program that fit both the workforce and the company culture. The ICHRA strategy would keep costs predictable while still offering access to major medical coverage. Specialty perks like pet insurance, dental, vision, mental health, and telehealth would energize employees and feel especially relevant to a younger staff, while accident insurance would provide added financial security.
Participation would be strong enough to deliver real value for employees while still keeping employer costs manageable proving that smaller businesses can compete with larger organizations in the benefits space. With Gathr* simplifying enrollment and administration and Benni providing white-glove consulting support, the franchise owner could focus on running the business while enjoying higher retention, stronger loyalty, and a reputation as an employer that truly invests in its people.
If your business is facing similar challenges with costs, participation, or employee retention, Benni can help design the right solution for you. Are these issues you’re experiencing today?