Q: What is the most important aspect of the healthcare benefits you offer your employees?
Sarah Banning, CBP
Global Benefits Administrator
Plexus Worldwide
Sector: Wellness Products
I would say the most important aspect at Plexus Worldwide, LLC is affordability. We offer a high-deductible medical plan that is no cost to employees, plus we contribute $1,000 annually to a health savings account.
If the employee enrolls dependents on that plan, the additional premium is low cost, and the annual HSA contribution increases to $2,000. Plexus also offers employees two PPO Plan options as well, with employee premiums well below what you will find with most employers.
We’ve done a great job of educating our employees about the value of the HSA but still want to provide multiple options. We educate employees through a comprehensive benefits guide, individual meetings with new hires, and thorough virtual and in-person meetings during open enrollment.
There’s not always a “one size fits all” to benefits.
Sarah Banning, CBP, serves as the global benefits administrator at Plexus Worldwide. In this role, she oversees the company’s health, retirement and wellness programs. She works closely with external providers, brokers and consultants to optimize benefit offerings, while conducting data analysis to ensure these programs remain competitive and effective.
Dan Downs
Chief People Officer
Southwest Behavioral & Health Services
Sector: Healthcare
Our Southwest Behavioral & Health Services team of more than 1,000 employees statewide includes psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and other support staff. They are a diverse group of people dedicated to providing compassionate care. Their work ranges from intensive inpatient care for persons in crisis to prevention services, community outreach, school-based counseling and more. So, it’s important for SB&H to offer a range of healthcare benefit options that can cater to our team members’ different health needs and life stages.
In addition to providing comprehensive coverage that is affordable and easily accessible, SB&H incorporates benefits that support various aspects of well-being, such as maternity and paternity leave, fertility treatments, mental health resources and programs for chronic illness management.
We also provide access to wellness programs, such as discounts to gyms, team building programs, weight loss programs, generous PTO plan, an Employee Assistance Program and other programs.
Since 1974, SB&H has grown to be the largest nonprofit behavioral health agency in Arizona, and our highest priority is to keep our employees healthy, happy, safe and inspired.
With more than 30 years of experience in human resources, Dan Downs serves as chief people officer for Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, an innovative integrated health leader and nonprofit organization that provides behavioral health services to children and adults statewide. He oversees the People Experience Department’s daily operations, including employee relations; development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and benefit administration among other areas.
Raul Molina
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Mint Cannabis
Sector: Cannabis
At Mint Cannabis, we believe that investing in the comprehensive health and wellness of our employees is essential to fostering a supportive and productive workplace. We are committed to providing our employees and their families with a robust benefits package designed to support their well-being. Our benefits include medical, dental, vision, and employer-paid life and accidental death & dismemberment coverage.
We offer medical coverage through United Healthcare’s largest network of doctors and hospitals, giving our employees access to top-tier care, along with comprehensive dental and vision coverage.
We also recognize the importance of mental and emotional health, which is why we provide an Employee Assistance Program that offers free, confidential support to help employees manage stress, anxiety, and depression; work-life relationships; legal and financial issues; occupational stress and burnout; and substance use concerns.
We also offer programs to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Our “One Pass Select” program gives employees access to a nationwide network of gyms and on-demand home workout classes, while our “Real Appeal” program helps employees build sustainable, healthy habits.
Raul Molina is co-founder and chief operating officer of Mint Cannabis, a multi-state cannabis operator headquartered in Arizona. Bringing more than 20 years of marketing, operations and management experience, he leads the growth, expansion and operations of Mint-branded retail dispensaries, cannabis manufacturing facilities and marijuana cultivation facilities. This includes the third-largest dispensary in the nation and the only cannabis kitchen of its kind in the country.
