In 2023, ChurnZero looked to bring in a partner that could help the company uplevel its benefits strategy, provide employee support, and help navigate its team through all the logistical hurdles associated with total rewards.

According to Susan Rankin, Director of People at ChurnZero, the company’s previous benefits broker was “doing the basics, but not elevating the experience for our employees.” On the other hand, now working with Sequoia, Susan “couldn’t ask for a better partnership.”

A Partnership to Match Company Culture

ChurnZero is a remote-forward organization with team members all over the U.S. and around the world. Bolstering company culture in this kind of environment can be difficult, but Susan explained that ChurnZero is focused on creating positive engagement whenever they can.

“We strive to foster a great place to work, ensure our employees enjoy the work they’re doing, and benchmark our benefits so they’re competitive with the market.”

As ChurnZero looked to replace its benefits broker, Susan said that choosing Sequoia was a no-brainer.

“We already had a great experience using Sequoia’s Global Advisory to support our international employees, so it only made sense to add the U.S. services too,” Susan explained. “Sequoia helps us understand what benefits are available, and communicate them to our employees so everyone feels fully taken care of, regardless of where they work.”

I don’t use Sequoia for just one thing – they manage our U.S. benefits, global strategy, 401k, and now we’re looking at their compensation services.

Overcoming Open Enrollment Hurdles

Following team changes in 2023, Susan was responsible for overseeing open enrollment. ChurnZero was evaluating its mental health benefits and Life and Disability insurance. According to Susan, “the learning curve was steep.”

In particular, ChurnZero had been spending a significant amount of money on its mental health benefit, which is extremely important to the organization, but utilization was low. Susan worked with Sequoia to understand what else was available and then guide employees through the transition.

“My Sequoia partners helped educate me, provided extra audits during the busiest time of the year, and ensured that OE was a smooth process for all involved,” Susan said. “My team is small, but I have the amazing powerhouse of Sequoia behind me.”

Small Business, Big Plans

When asked what she’s planning for this year, Susan shared that she’s looking to upgrade the company’s total rewards strategy. Though ChurnZero’s plans are competitive and robust, with premier carriers and coverage, she’s now evaluating their 401k match, HSA employer contributions, and employee experience with FSAs.

Susan is working closely with Sequoia to benchmark their current offerings against the market to compete with larger corporations.

“I don’t use Sequoia for just one thing – they manage our U.S. benefits, global strategy, 401k, and now we’re looking at their compensation services,” Susan shared. “For smaller organizations who might think Sequoia won’t be the best fit, just reach out to them. Having the team at Sequoia behind me strengthens every aspect of my job and what I can offer our employees.”