What kind of health coverage do you expect from your employer?

[Jims5543]

Everyone who works for me makes $200 more a week than if they worked for one of my local competitiors. I seek the cream of the crop and pay them so they will not leave.

I own a land surveying company and my workforce is relatively young. They are mostly in their 20's and early 30's.

Moses your a lucky guy if you have found loyal people that work hard. I have found over the last 8 years most will let you down no matter what you do. I had one employee stealing from me while I was bailing him out of foreclosure ($1200), paying off the loan on his car that blew an engine out of warranty ($6000) buying him a car to get back and forth the work with ($6000) and before all that giving him money to buy an engagement ring with ($5000) and he was stealing from me and plotting to take my clients and be my competitor. How much nicer could I be to this guy? What a kick in the face.

Another employee borrowed 8K from me and tried to not pay me back. I have since stopped helping people with thier personal problems. I used to have the theory that a happy employee is a productive one. I have now changed it to a hungry guy will work his ass off to get ahead. No more hand outs.

I have a 2nd in command now that would kill or die for me. These guys are hard to find. I will eventually make him part owner of this place.

an 'employer's dollar' goes a lot further than an individual's when buying insurance.

This is so far from the truth. When shopping insurance a few years back, one of my employees got a quote on his own for himself as an individual. He was quoted $95 a month for the same coverage I was getting him with the same company. My cost for the same policy? $250 a month. This is because the health insurance industry is out of control. They were forced to cover things they dont want to by lawyers so they have made small businesses pay for it by tripling their premiums.

[Moses]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Cant argue with that Moses, but something tells me your employees are more specialized/critical. And not to sound snotty, but the profit margins in our two areas of work are probably a lil different too

I rarely have guys quit though.

You're right. The work is extremely specialized with a steep learning curve and good "people skills" are a must.

The profit margin would surprize you, I think. California M.D.'s rank 49 out of 50 in reimbursement and rank #2 in cost of living. Only in Hawaii do docs make less money. I'm not complaining, but there are no sailboats and airplanes in my toy chest. My kids clothes come from Target and attend public school. Still, I can't afford marginal employees. They are truly expensive.

[Superman]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
Len, for a small company, I think you are offering more than most, good on you.

I agree with Joe. I've got one foot in the "share the company's financials" management philosophy so that everyone knows what's going on, understands the realities of running a company and that they feel like they are part of a team, or indeed family.

I think people can make good decisions as long as they are properly educated and can have a dialogue.

Of course the trick is to not sound like, "Hey, look at all this great stuff I'm doing for you... you better appreciate it." if/when you meet on the subject.

Len, and Shawn, are labor relations geniuses. I'm not kidding.