What do employees look for in a company?
Most companies, like GroundTruth, probably grapple with this question. For us, we know that attracting and retaining top talent requires a comprehensive employment offering, including benefits that positively impact our team members’ lives. From an ROI perspective, when done well, benefits also pay for themselves. From hiring and retention to increased productivity, a good benefits program not only helps us acquire the right talent but keep existing employees happy.
Today, perks can vary from trendy to traditional. Daily catered lunches and fully stocked kitchens are great, and as with other tech companies, you’ll find this in our offices. But you’ll also find robust health coverage, including 100% covered premiums and a 401k employer match — and that’s something we’re especially proud of.
Working with us has its benefits
At a time when health care costs are on the rise, this kind of health coverage counts for a lot. Industry research shows that in 2019, American workers can expect higher premiums and higher deductibles; both increased this year to take a bigger bite of employees’ paychecks.
With the welfare and financial health of our employees in mind, GroundTruth pays 100% of employee medical, dental, and vision premiums. Not only do we provide all regular full-time employees with health coverage options at no additional premium cost, but we also pay 75% of the premium cost for your eligible dependents. Employees in New York and California also receive a free membership to a concierge-style primary care provider, One Medical.
We support our staff in this way for one simple reason: Employees are our most valuable asset. We want employees to be focused on creating value, not administrative things like filing insurance claims. These benefits allow us to remove some friction from their daily routine. Which allows us to create an environment where people feel free and comfortable to build and create, and not be stressed about things like paying medical bills.
Trendy and traditional: Striking a balance with our perks
Not all companies share this outlook, as Lindsay Pryor, our HR Generalist, pointed out to me. “The benefits at GroundTruth are more well-rounded than other companies where I’ve worked,” she says. “It’s amazing that we offer fully paid-for health insurance and all other perks like free lunches, tuition reimbursement, and a flexible vacation policy. At other companies you usually see the traditional benefits or the trendier ones, but not both.”
It’s amazing that we offer fully paid-for health insurance and all other perks like free lunches, tuition reimbursement, and a flexible vacation policy.
Since joining the company in 2011 as CFO, I’ve made it my mission to prioritize both. In my opinion, providing a comprehensive benefits plan increases loyalty and retention, while improving productivity. It also shows our employees and prospective candidates that we’re invested in their health — whether physical, emotional, or financial.
Another major advantage of this approach is that it allows us to support our employees throughout every stage of their lives. Game rooms and in-house baristas certainly have appeal, but there comes a time when maternity leave is much more important. We recently expanded from a 12-week to a 16-week maternity policy, and according to our Managing Director, Catherine Fanone, those extra four weeks can make a world of difference to a new mom. “In addition to more time with my daughter, I also felt supported by the leadership team. I was able to fully unplug and give my family my undivided attention during this special time,” Catherine says.
The bottom line? Benefits matter
Not only do these perks provide job candidates and existing employees with a clear career path, but they also deliver a better quality of life and create a mutually beneficial relationship between us and our future employees. Elina Greenstein, VP of Channel Partnerships, agrees. “They say you never know how good your company’s benefits coverage is until you need it,” she says, “and they’re right. After a successful and healthy delivery, we learned our then 6-week old son needed a minor yet emergency surgery. After a few days in the hospital and a week of recovery, our little boy was back to his old self and stronger than ever. Thanks to the benefits program at GroundTruth, my husband and I were able to focus all of our energy on our son’s recovery instead of worrying about paying the hospital bill.”
To keep everything running smoothly, we employ a Benefits Manager who evaluates what’s most important to our staff and informs our employees of our offerings, which include:
- Flexible Vacation Policy
- 401K match
- Catered Lunch and Snacks
- Employee Referral Program
- Gym Reimbursement
- Cell Phone Reimbursement
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Generous Paid Leave Policies
Throughout the years, we’ve tried to eliminate as much confusion and headache around benefits for our employees as possible. That’s because the perks we provide are essential to creating a thriving workplace, one in which our employees feel satisfied both inside and outside the office. At GroundTruth, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
