Families United Network’s Post

As senior management and plan administrators, it's essential to recognize the profound impact that disability benefits can have on your workforce. In an unpredictable world, ensuring that your employees are protected in case of injury or illness is not just a perk, it's a necessity. Disability benefits offer financial support to employees who are unable to work due to a disabling condition. This safety net helps maintain their financial stability, covering essential living expenses while they focus on recovery. But the advantages go beyond just the financial aspect. #LearnAtMontridge Full video https://hubs.li/Q02L9PMG0

Did you know that May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth here in the U.S.? At Amplify Consulting Partners we hold ourselves accountable for creating an authentic workplace where every person feels heard and experiences a sense of belonging. Here are some of the ways we support our employees—no matter what stage or phase of life they're in: 👉 Employee Assistance Programs (access to BetterHelp online therapy & Live and Work Well support services through Optum) 👉 UnitedHealthcare Motion® daily, incentivized activity goals 👉 #AmplifyYou & #AmplifyElevate programs (annual stipends for personal and professional growth and well-being) 👉 New hire companion & mentorship programs 👉 Student loan repayment program 👉 Retirement planning & 401(k) 👉 Discounted pet insurance 👉 100% employee coverage and subsidized healthcare for dependents 👉 Parental leave for birthing, non-birthing, and adoptive parents 👉 Regular company & team-building connection events 👉 Paid time off to use when you need it 👉 Remote-friendly workplace Get access to resources and learn more about mental health statistics here: https://lnkd.in/d_Gnfsqi

📣 Calling out all employers who aren't financially supporting their colleagues and their families this summer. Over 43% of parents are feeling the summer #money stress this year and you, as an employer need to be helping. 🤔 Why? Because: Research by the Salvation Army and YouGov found: - 50% are concerned about the cost of school uniforms - 29% worry about affording food, especially with reliance on free school meals during term time - 25% of working parents are anxious about food expenses - 19% of working parents are concerned about taking unpaid leave Most parents (55%) said cheaper school uniforms would help ease financial strain, while 53% said they’d benefit from lower childcare costs. Additionally, 46% said food vouchers or extra cash, or benefits that cover living costs would help. Employers who fail to recognise and address these summer-specific challenges risk facing increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and lower employee morale. By contrast, those who provide financial support and flexibility during this period are likely to see improved employee engagement, loyalty, and overall performance. Supporting staff financially this summer isn't just a matter of goodwill—it's a strategic investment in maintaining a productive, healthy, and committed workforce. ♻ Check out and share - my new blog post on ways your colleagues can save money this summer (See comments) To review or embed Financial Wellbeing in your workplace let's chat further - https://lnkd.in/ex547X7p #FinancialLiteracy #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #Workplace

Really interesting article in my inbox this morning from HR Brew ™️ about Paramount, who are true trailblazers in supporting employees through all stages of life, including the often-overlooked challenge of eldercare. But first, shoutout to my incredible advisor, Shelly Rauvola, for sparking my interest in aging workers and the importance of eldercare in today’s workforce! 👏👵👴 While other companies are just starting to catch on, Paramount has been ahead of the curve for 15 years! Starting with backup care, they’ve expanded to an eldercare management program through Bright Horizons. Now, employees can get help arranging safety assessments, exploring care options, and more. 💼🏡 Michelle Martin (SVP of Total Rewards at Paramount) shared that employee feedback has driven these changes, and usage has grown significantly over the past decade. With more people in the sandwich generation balancing kids and elderly relatives, eldercare is becoming a workplace necessity, but 40% of companies still aren’t offering these benefits. Paramount proves that eldercare benefits aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential. If your company isn’t offering them yet, it’s time to catch up with the leaders who’ve been paving the way for years. Let’s make eldercare the rule, not the exception! Check out the full article for more details on how Paramount is supporting their employees: https://lnkd.in/ghMmCw89 #Eldercare #WorkplaceWellness #EmployeeSupport #CompassionateCare #EmployeeBenefits #SandwichGeneration #AgingWorkforce #TheFutureOfWork

My Self-Reflection: Growth Through Challenges and Resilience As the year winds down and the festive season creeps closer (along with my credit card bill, thanks to Christmas shopping), I find myself reflecting on 2024—a year that was definitely not a walk in the park. It felt more like a hike up a mountain, in flip-flops, during a rainstorm. There were emotional reformations aplenty—think waves of realization where I looked in the mirror and said, “Seriously? We’re doing that again?” But hey, every stumble turned into a step forward (eventually), and somehow, I made it out stronger, wiser, and with fewer bad habits than I started with. This rollercoaster ride inspired me to craft a framework for 2025 that balances personal growth, professional excellence, and community involvement—without leaving my sanity behind. Guess what??!! In 10 days...I aim to master the art of self-management (or at least make fewer impulsive Amazon purchases) while leveling up professionally with global certifications because it means I get to sound smarter 🫣😉. Alongside, I’ll continue my commitment to social welfare by fostering empathy, addressing societal challenges, and giving back to the community in any way I can. Together, these goals reflect my aspiration to grow as a well-rounded individual who contributes both professionally and socially. Here’s to 2025: a year of growth, balance, and fewer late-night existential crises!

Want to make a difference over lunch? 💥 A long time in the making, we're excited to finally announce some really BIG All Things Equal-related news. Introducing… Recipro-catering. Whipped up for businesses who need catering on the reg – think meetings, functions, lunch ‘n’ learns, team goodbyes, office birthdays, Friday knock-offs, and so much more – you can now invest your catering budget into professional platters and delicious catering that can help us make a significant impact in the disability employment space in just 12 months 😱 Here’s the deal: 💸 We’re asking 25 businesses to commit to one $600 catering order per month for 12 months 💸 Why? ⏰ Because every $600 catering order creates 5 hours of award-wage employment for a person with disability ⏰ The disability unemployment rate hasn’t changed in 30 years. With more people looking for jobs now than ever (our current waitlist for employment at ATE is 80+ people long 🤯), there’s never been a better time to commit to making a difference. Currently, mainstream workplaces don’t reflect how diverse our society is. Your workplace can make a small change that results in a *big* difference. ✅ No more boring food for board meetings. ✅ Add another seat to the employment table. ✅ Delicious catering from capable contributors. Pride, purpose, platters. Now *that’s* good business. Get in touch with me to learn more about this exciting initiative. 25 spots are available – so maybe, just maybe, you’ll be fast enough to snag one for yourself 😉 https://lnkd.in/gSZ4ZuEQ A huge shoutout to the wonderful teams at Willow & Blake, Canterbury Creative, Pressroom Philanthropy, Pitch Agency and Naughty Nancy for bringing this campaign to life!

Today, we celebrate the International Day of Families 👨👩👧👦 Families are the cornerstone of society, providing love, support, and stability. We recognize the importance of families and are committed to fostering a family-friendly work environment. Here are a few tips to support families in your workplace: - Offer flexible work hours and remote work options to help your employees balance their professional and family commitments. - Implement parental leave policies to ensure that new parents have the time they need to bond with their newborns. - Provide family health benefits that cover employees and their families, ensuring everyone has access to quality healthcare. Together, we build a stronger, more supportive community 💚 #insurance #brokers #employeebenefits

Middle-class families today are increasingly dependent on the quality and range of workplace benefits, particularly during times of crisis, to maintain financial stability. The loss of a caregiver's financial support due to death or disability can be devastating for a family's financial situation. Employers aiming to address this issue can offer voluntary benefits to support their teams at little or no cost. Read our most recent article to explore voluntary benefits as a solution and the research showcasing the importance of workplace benefits for middle-class families. 🔗 https://loom.ly/RCsOkGI #VoluntaryBenefits #EmployeeBenefits

Ever heard of Living Benefits? There are Life policies that are designed to pay the ensured when they are still alive if they become sick or disabled. These policies are more expensive compared to policies that don't have that benefit. Understandable. But that is only part of a proper plan. Living benefits are designed to ensure your income isn't lost while you are still alive. How much do you make? How many years do you need that to continue? A good plan has that benefit, but also doesn't break the bank. A mix of a policy with Living Benefits, a policy with only death benefit, and and an accidental policy will give a ton of coverage that is more affordable compared to just getting a larger policy with Living Benefits. If your family has a propensity to have heart attack/stroke/cancer, then a policy that covers that is also something to think about. This will ensure you are properly protected at a good cost. Do you have the right protection?

Who else thinks that adding RESP contributions to a baby registry is a no brainer? And how do some strollers, which are akin to fancy shopping carts, cost thousands of dollars these days? We know that taking a leave from work disproportionately falls on women. Whether that is a parental leave or an extended leave for caregiving responsibilities. We have coached many families through taking time away from work to make their leaves productive, easier to budget for, and both the coming and going less emotionally jarring. With the cost of living becoming increasingly crushing to many, being realistic about what you can and cannot afford to do personally and as a family is important. For example, we have seen many young families prioritize expensive travel during parental leaves, which ultimately leaves them drowning in debt that takes years to pay off. A great financial advisor will guide you through your trade offs, and isn't afraid to provide tough love if they feel it is in your best interest. Read more in my colleague Maria Miletic and my feature in The Globe and Mail link below: https://lnkd.in/ggsmrG3H