Burgerville's Benefits; Hourly Workers to Get Improved Health Care Coverage
Posted on: Friday, 23 December 2005, 15:00 CST
By JONATHAN NELSON Columbian staff writer
Brenda Whitlock was among the few Burgerville hourly employees who used the company's health insurance plan.
The coverage applied a sliding fee scale to each service that meant her costs for different prescriptions and office appointments varied drastically, frustrating the eight-year employee. She paid because she had no other choice.
Until now.
Executives with Vancouver-based The Holland Inc., the parent company for Burgerville and Noodlin' restaurants, are offering hourly employees a new health insurance plan through Kaiser Permanente that stabilizes office visit and prescription costs and makes the company unique within its industry.
The new plan is born of The Holland's own frustration with the previous health care package that CEO Jeff Harvey called "cost prohibitive."
"If we're not going to support our employees in this regard, it's going to be reflected in our business," Harvey said.
Harvey declined to say how much the new plan will cost The Holland, but did say it is twice as much as the old coverage.
The announcement this week means The Holland is one of a few companies in the industry offering such a benefit to its 600 hourly workers. PayScale Inc., an on-line company that collects compensation data, said 60 percent of fast-food workers go without medical insurance.
The move is another for a company with 1,500 employees and 42 restaurants that prides itself on its social conscience. The Holland regularly touts the Burgerville chain's connection to local producers as a means of giving customers a good product while supporting local businesses.
In August, The Holland signed a deal with Clark Public Utilities in Vancouver, Portland's PGE and the Bonneville Power Administration to buy renewable wind power. The agreement means The Holland will pay 10 percent more for its electricity needs.
Harvey said the new health insurance plan, which is available to its hourly workers, also makes business sense because it can be used as a recruiting tool and way to retain good workers.
Sarah Parker has worked at the Burgerville on East Mill Plain for more than a year, but was looking for a new job until the upgraded health plan was announced.
"I have six-month-old twins and was going to quit," Parker said. "This makes all the difference."
Employees who have been with the company for at least six months and work 20 hours a week are eligible for the Kaiser plan, which costs $15 a month. Office visits are $20 and drug prescriptions cost $15 for generic and $30 for brand names.
The Holland pays 95 percent of the premium for employees and 90 percent for dependents.
A similar dental and vision plan is available.
Whitlock estimates her medical costs will be cut in half and expand to include her three children and fiance.
"It's just fabulous," she said.
Jonathan Nelson covers retail, banking and the Port of Vancouver. He can be reached at 360-759-8013 or at jonathan.nelson@columbian.com.
Update
Previously: Vancouver-based The Holland Inc. offered health insurance for hourly workers at its Burgerville and Noodlin' restaurants.
What's new: The company has upgraded that benefit, cutting costs for eligible workers.
What's next: Employees are learning about the program, which becomes effective Jan. 1.
Source: Columbian
Related Articles
- Employer Health Benefit Costs Continue to Rise at Twice the Rate of Inflation, Mercer Survey Finds
- Little Relief From Health Benefit Cost Increases Expected, Watson Wyatt, National Business Group On Health Survey Finds
- Health Care Costs Could Jump 10 Percent
- Health Care Costs Shifting
- Market Rx for Health Care Costs
- Health Care Costs Again to Rise
- Health Care Costs May Slow Hiring
- Health Care Costs Slow Company Profits
- Health Care Costs Dragging
- Health Care Costs Continue to Rise
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds