How a Small Organic Farm Simplified Employee Benefits with Expert Guidance
- Small Business Benefits
- Jan 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 20
A Local Organic Farm and Market is a thriving local market that prides itself on sustainable practices and serving its close-knit community. Like many small businesses, creating a robust employee benefits package while managing costs posed a significant challenge. With a team composed largely of younger employees, the need for targeted guidance and accessible support was critical to ensuring health coverage suited to their needs.
This case study highlights how a personalized, expert-driven approach transformed their benefits strategy, empowering employees to make informed decisions, reducing HR’s workload, and creating a sustainable, cost-effective solution that supports both the business and its team.
Client Overview
Business Type: Organic Farm & Market
Location: Traverse City, MI
Employees: 18
Table of Contents
The Challenge
Like many small businesses, a local farm had been leveraging the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide health insurance to its employees. While this option made coverage more accessible, it introduced complexities for their younger, less experienced workforce. Many employees struggled to understand the technicalities of available health plans, resulting in poor decision-making that led to inadequate or overly expensive coverage. This caused frustration and left employees feeling unsupported when it came to their health needs.
Human Resources were under significant strain. With limited resources, the team was tasked not only with managing payroll and hiring efforts but also with supervising the benefits administration process. Balancing these responsibilities while staying cost-conscious made it challenging to offer the level of support employees required. Leadership sought a solution that would empower employees, lighten their administrative load, and fit within the company’s financial framework.
The Solution
Small Business Benefits (SBB) stepped in with a tailored solution designed to address the local farm and market's unique challenges. By bringing a consultative and high-touch approach to employee benefits administration, SBB helped transform the farm's strategy. Here’s how it worked:
Simplified Employee Benefits & Personalized Plan Education
Navigating ACA health plan options can be confusing for any employee, especially for those with limited experience in healthcare decision-making. To address this, SBB provided individualized, one-on-one consultations to each employee. These sessions were designed to educate employees on different health plan options, answer specific questions about coverage needs, and help them make informed choices based on their circumstances.
For example, an entry-level employee with limited healthcare needs could gain insights into selecting a budget-friendly basic plan, while an employee with a young family might opt for more comprehensive coverage that reduced out-of-pocket costs. This bespoke guidance dispelled confusion, strengthened confidence, and ensured everyone selected plans aligned with their healthcare priorities.
Introduction of Concierge Medical Services
Recognizing the need to improve healthcare access and convenience, SBB added an optional concierge medical benefit. This service provided employees with enhanced access to medical providers, facilitating quicker appointments, streamlined referrals, and hands-on help with insurance claims.
The concierge option ensured employees weren’t left in the dark when it came to navigating the healthcare system. From booking specialists to resolving billing issues, this benefit resolved many barriers and frustrations employees previously faced. It also gave employees and their families peace of mind, knowing they had direct support when health concerns arose.
Comprehensive Ancillary Benefits
A competitive benefits package often includes more than just health insurance, and the team at the Farm knew ancillary benefits could significantly enhance employee satisfaction. To fill this gap, SBB introduced optional dental, vision, and disability insurance. These benefits rounded out the health coverage options, ensuring employees had access to a wider array of support services.
For instance, employees could now schedule regular dental cleanings or eye exams, reducing the long-term costs of neglected preventive care. Disability insurance provided crucial peace of mind, particularly for young workers concerned about their financial security in the event of unforeseen injuries or illnesses.
Each of these solutions reinforced the company’s commitment to its employees while allowing HR to relinquish the burden of managing intricate benefit choices internally.
The Results
The changes implemented by Small Business Benefits produced measurable outcomes for the local organic farm and its employees, creating a win-win scenario for both parties.
Enhanced Employee Confidence and Satisfaction
Employees felt more empowered to choose the right health plans for their personal and family needs. The personalized guidance sessions not only educated employees but also built trust in the company’s commitment to their overall well-being. This resulted in improved morale and created a sense of security for the team.
Reduced HR Administrative Load
By outsourcing much of the benefits guidance and relying on SBB’s expertise, HR no longer had to manage the time-consuming administration of health insurance. They could refocus their attention on hiring, training, and fostering a positive workplace culture. The added capacity allowed the HR team to operate with greater efficiency.
Expanded Benefits Offerings for Employees
With the inclusion of ancillary benefits, employees felt they were receiving a competitive and well-rounded benefits package. Options like dental and vision coverage improved the attractiveness of the farm's benefits program and helped with both employee retention and recruitment.
Improved Healthcare Access and Quality
The concierge benefits made accessing medical care simpler and faster, particularly when navigating the complexities of referrals and claims. Employees reported feeling less stressed about healthcare-related matters and appreciated having a resource to guide them every step of the way.
Financial Sustainability
All these improvements were achieved without breaking the farm’s budget, creating a cost-conscious solution that worked for both the business and its employees.
Testimonial From Local Organic Farm
"We were extremely pleased with the hands-on approach Small Business Benefits took with each of our team members. Their expert guidance made all the difference in ensuring our employees felt confident in their coverage decisions. The entire process was seamless for both our employees and our HR team." — Farm Owner
Why This Matters
Offering the right benefits is critical for small businesses, but it can be a difficult balance to strike. This Farm’s story demonstrates how partnering with experts like Small Business Benefits can turn an overwhelming challenge into a successful and sustainable benefits strategy.
If you’re a small business looking to improve healthcare access, reduce administrative strain, and enhance employee satisfaction, consider a personalized approach.
Conclusion
This journey of a small local farm showcases the transformative impact of a personalized and expert-driven approach to employee benefits. By addressing the unique needs of their workforce and alleviating the administrative burden on HR, they created a sustainable solution that enhanced employee satisfaction, improved healthcare access, and expanded their benefits offerings—all while staying within budget. This success story underscores the importance of tailored benefits strategies for small businesses striving to support their teams and thrive in today’s competitive landscape. If your business is ready to simplify benefits management and empower employees, Small Business Benefits is here to help you achieve similar results.
Take the Next Step
Empower your employees while simplifying benefits management for your business. Don’t wait to achieve your business goals any longer! Contact Small Business Benefits at 616-425-9740 or visit sbbmi.com to see how we can customize a solution that works for your team. We’re here to help personalize health care for your employees and save your business money.
For additional resources, explore Healthcare.gov and our Small Business Benefits resource hub.