North Bay Business Journal – August 2020

North Bay Business Journal – August 2020

North Bay Community Philanthropy Awards 2020

We’re proud to announce – Mariah Shields and Arrow Benefits Group were just awarded The Business Journal 2020 North Bay Community Philanthropy Award. As an outstanding example of corporate giving and community involvement in Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties.

Click here to watch the video…

NorthBayBiz Magazine – December 2020

NorthBayBiz Magazine – December 2020

How to Deal with Open Enrollment During COVID-19
by A. McNeil and R. Avila

There is no question the pandemic has changed the way we work, interact, and communicate with our colleagues. Some industries no longer operate in the rigid structure once thought to be “the only” way to do business.

Read entire article here…

NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 2021

NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 2021

Read latest interview with award-winning Arrow advisors Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila.
Thinking About Diversity
by Michael Barnes

As the current social justice movement and push for progressive policies reshape how society operates, the significance of diversity in the workplace assumes new meaning. Recruiting employees with diversity in mind is a process that is more than simply “checking a box.” It’s a decision informed by a unique cross-section of perspectives, practices and personalities sought by employers and employees alike.

Read entire article here…

NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 5, 2021

NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 5, 2021

Philanthropy: COVID-19’s Silver Lining
by Mariah Shields

While COVID-19 doesn’t conjure positive images, there is something to be said about the constructive ripple effects of this pandemic. With every emergency or natural disaster, there’s always an optimistic side to the distress. This crisis is no exception. The concept of company culture and giving back to the community is stronger than ever before—the pandemic has opened-up an entirely new conversation about what it means to be civic minded.

Read entire article here…

NorthBayBiz Magazine – April 7, 2021

NorthBayBiz Magazine – April 7, 2021

Enhancing Company Benefits for a Better Employee Experience
by A. McNeil & R. Avila

Lets start with three questions: How did you develop your company benefits program? Was it built with the employee in mind, or was it to mirror what your competitors are offering? And how do you know if your benefits program is truly meeting the needs of your employees and their families? When we ask employers these questions, the answer we most often get is: “I don’t know.”

Read entire article here…

NorthBayBiz Magazine – June 2021

NorthBayBiz Magazine – June 2021

Let’s Talk Benefits in English or Español!

Did you know that many employees don’t fully understand their benefit plans? According to a recent study by VOYA Financial, Inc., 66% of employees say they need their employer to help them better understand their employee benefits…54% of Millennials say they don’t understand their benefit offerings.

Read entire article here…

BenefitsPro Magazine – August 2021

The struggle to put culture into a neatly defined box
Brokers know all too well that even the best benefits plan can be derailed by ill-fitting company culture.

By Natalie Dolce | BenefitsPro Magazine – August 2021

Interview with award-winning Arrow advisors Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila.

Be intentional on what you are trying to create culture-wise and make sure your people believe in what you believe.
Imagine, if you will, a company that makes culture its top priority instead of, say, revenue generation or product development. What would such an initiative look like? Surely, it would be similar in that it would be measurable with definable goals and ROI. Not necessarily, say the experts at a panel at BenefitsPRO Broker EXPO 2021. Many of the industry’s most recognized benefits leaders tackled the hard questions surrounding the C’s in our not-so “new” normal: culture, communication and creativity. “I see a lot of clients wanting to see immediate ROI on it and that isn’t possible in my opinion,” said Andrew McNeil of Arrow Benefits Group.” If you see things working smoothly, that is the ROI but it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Read entire article here…

North Bay Business Journal – August 2021

New workplace divide: Remote versus office jobs in San Francisco Bay Area
North Bay Business Journal Monthly Featured Column
By Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila
Bringing people back to the office post-pandemic will be one of the most challenging decisions a business will face this and next year. Since the beginning of this crisis, we’ve been debating this tough shift in workplace culture.

Read entire article here…

North Bay Business Journal – October 2021

Small and large businesses must deal with employee vaccination issue
North Bay Business Journal Monthly Featured Column
By Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila
We appreciate that there are people who feel differently about the vaccine, be it for medical, religious or other personal reasons.
So, for employers (no matter the size) that simply want to require that everyone to be vaccinated, we pose the question: Does that decision really make sense for the company?

Read entire article here…

Photo credit: Rohnert Park, Calif – Jim Wilson/The New York Times

North Bay Business Journal – September 2021

Petaluma’s Arrow Benefits buys Sebastopol insurance benefits firm Aita and Associates
The North Bay Business Journal
By Susan Wood
Arrow Benefits CEO Joe Genovese told the Business Journal that Aita and Associates served as an ideal fit with Arrow, with its 1,500 clients and 40 employees. He also liked how Aita offered similar employee benefits, a crucial component to retaining and attracting good talent in the age of a coronavirus-spawned labor shortage.

Read entire article here…