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Originally published in The Tennessean, February 2025

Most business leaders know it’s our employees who drive success at our organizations. But how much do we know about those employees as whole people? And how can we use personal insights to offer benefits that drive engagement and business results? 

No matter the industry, every employee has the potential to bring unique skills, knowledge and innovation to their job. They can be the true embodiment of your company’s values and commitment to excellence, enhancing workplace culture and brand reputation. That’s why having the right benefits in place can motivate employees and make employers stand out in a crowd.

Going beyond the basic needs of your employees

At BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, we believe traditional health benefits are critical. But we’ve learned organizations that take a holistic approach to employee benefits stand out.  

When you see each employee as a whole person – many with families and dependents – their needs become more obvious. That’s why we focus on total wellbeing: physical, mental, financial, and social connection. When our people are healthier, they’re happier, more productive and more engaged in their roles.  

Promoting a culture where employees are encouraged to take time off to recharge is good for their overall wellbeing. Offering resources that improve a person’s work-life balance helps combat burnout and improves employee engagement.  

One of the most frequently submitted ideas from our employees last year was paid caregiver leave. With about 40% of our workforce comprised of Gen Xers, many of our employees could use this benefit to care for aging loved ones. Today, BlueCross offers 40 hours of paid leave to care for an immediate family member. By easing some of the financial and emotional burdens that come with caregiving, our people can be fully present during their family’s time of need. Among the emails I’ve received about our benefits, caregiver leave has been truly appreciated by our people. 

Along the same lines, we also offer: 

• paid bereavement leave
• a paid day off to volunteer
• expanded paid parental leave to 12 weeks. 

Why employee feedback is key to retention

Strong benefits have always been a focus for us. But research shows successful organizations don’t rely on standard benefits alone; they create workplace cultures where employees feel heard and trusted. And they put what they hear into action. Through our annual engagement survey, we’ve seen our employees’ needs evolve. This survey is instrumental in understanding their perspectives on engagement and overall wellbeing.   

As an example from our 2024 survey, our employees say work-life balance, remote work and the ability to grow are reasons why they stay with BlueCross and would recommend us as a great company to work for. 

Our human resources team also conducts ongoing research to align with market standards. Those insights gained have helped us adjust or introduce new benefits. These benchmarking studies also ensure employee offerings are cost-effective and competitive, while also meeting the needs of our employees.  

Over 40% of employees have been at BlueCross for more than 10 years and 20% have been with us for more than 20 years.

We know there’s more to be done – particularly as we balance the needs of both veteran and new employees – so we’ll continue to listen and learn. 

BlueCross employees understand how their work helps real people across Tennessee. So, as an employer, it’s our responsibility to take care of the people who make our mission possible.