Did you know that caregiving is the second leading reason employees leave the workforce, right after retirement?* In this insightful episode, host Jeff Cross sits down with George Nightingale and Adriana Medina from Homethrive to shine a light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by working caregivers. The conversation reveals how many employees don’t even realize they’re caregivers — leading to hidden effects on productivity, wellbeing, and financial health. Together, these three explore wh...
Jul 22, 2025•33 min•Ep. 73
In this episode, we sit down with Darrin Tulley, Fractional Operating and People Officer at Koster Keunen, a global manufacturer of waxes. During this conversation, we dive into the world of fractional work—a growing trend that’s changing how companies and professionals connect. Darrin explains why more organizations are turning to fractional roles, and how this approach brings fresh talent, greater engagement, and flexibility for everyone involved. And if you’re passionate about workplace cultu...
Jun 17, 2025•39 min•Ep. 72
We recently sat down with Daniel Lawhon, the driving force behind First Tracks Health. Daniel shares his unique journey and sheds light on the current mental health landscape, exploring why anxiety and depression are on the rise and what employers can do to support their teams. Jeff Cross and Daniel dive deep into the challenges of accessing quality, affordable care, and how First Tracks Health is pioneering solutions for treatment-resistant mental health conditions. From the debate over medicat...
Jun 09, 2025•30 min•Ep. 71
John Lufburrow, Chief Revenue Officer at ReviveHealth, joins Jeff Cross on the podcast to discuss how employers can move past the traditional EAP programs to drive greater impact on their workforces' mental health. From their successful virtual care clinic solution to mental health Rx (not what you think it is!) and weight health vs. weight loss, these two have a great conversation around how a well-designed mental health strategy is fundamental to an organization's ability to thrive. If you're ...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 70
According to the 2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey by Business Group on Health, 27% of an employer's healthcare spending was due to pharmacy costs in 2023, up from 21% in 2021. And it's not slowing down anytime soon as this becomes one of the fastest-growing expense categories for businesses. To understand why pharmacy costs continue to rise, we invited Richard Lo , Director of Clinical Services on OneDigital's Pharmacy Consulting team , to help our listeners navigate the intricate world...
Apr 29, 2025•38 min•Ep. 69
We sat down with Dr. Brian Williams, a family medicine physician in Mystic, Connecticut, to get his perspective on the current healthcare system in America and how we, as individuals, can live healthier lifestyles as well as create healthier workplaces for our employees. During this discussion, we delve into why we don't see ads for broccoli or fish on TV, the controversial role GLP-1s play in weight management, and what the state of primary care is in this country. We also ask Dr. Williams how ...
Apr 15, 2025•34 min•Ep. 68
Friends with Employee Benefits is back with another season and this time, we're focused on one underlying theme: help employers contain their healthcare cost by, among other things, helping their employees live healthier lifestyles. This season, we’re tackling the biggest challenges in healthcare today: the obesity crisis, the rise of GLP-1s medications and skyrocketing pharmacy costs. But we’re not stopping there. We’re diving into financial, mental and physical health – the mind-body connectio...
Apr 14, 2025•1 min•Ep. 67
In today’s competitive job market, finding skilled workers has become a pressing challenge for employers across various industries. Jim Bologa, President and CEO at Porter & Chester Institute, joins Jeff Cross to share valuable insights and strategies to help bridge the skills gap. The two speak on workforce shortages and explore how Porter & Chester works with employers across New England to help solve this problem. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Sep 10, 2024•25 min•Ep. 66
100% retention in 24 months in this labor market? Sounds impossible - but that's been the reality for The Walker Group and co-CEO, Jessica Rich, who over the past year helped her organization turn to a Perpetual Purpose Trust (PPT) ownership structure. PPT for short, made most popular by Patagonia recently turning to this structure in 2022 , legally empowers a company to organize around its purpose, rather than just profit. In this episode, Jeff Cross, podcast host, and Jessica Rich dive into wh...
Aug 27, 2024•30 min•Ep. 65
Generative AI is, and will continue, to transform the American Workplace. How can HR and business leaders prepare for this change? Vinay Gidwaney , Chief Product Officer and our go-to AI expert at OneDigital, joins Host Jeff Cross, Client Executive, for a discussion around artificial intelligence (AI) - including what it is, where we currently stand with AI, how it's impacting the workplace and what employers can do to protect their business and their people, while also taking advantage of the o...
Aug 06, 2024•48 min•Ep. 64
Mental health awareness is more than just one month out of the year. It's a year-round opportunity to continue to show up for your employees so they can do their best work and live their best life. And that's how Lisa Harris, Chief People Officer, and Jody Breault, Manager of Benefits and Wellness at VEIC, view their workforce strategy. In this conversation, host Jeff Cross chats with Lisa and Jody about the innovative ways they are supporting their employees' mental health and wellbeing to crea...
Sep 12, 2023•35 min•Ep. 63
With the workforce becoming increasingly diverse year over year, employers are struggling with finding the right type of benefits that fit all their employees' needs. But there's one benefit that's ranked as the second most valuable employee benefit among all age groups, demographics, and industries : lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs). Tune into this episode as the host and guests dive into what LSA's are, why they are gaining traction amongst many different types of employers, how they work, a...
Jul 11, 2023•39 min•Ep. 62
In this quick hit episode, we'll cover why SECURE 2.0 was created, what the impact will mean for your organization + your people, what deadlines are approaching, and what employers should be thinking about now to implement in the future. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. Any tax advice contained herein is of a general nature. You should seek specific advice from your t...
Jun 20, 2023•24 min•Ep. 61
In this episode, Host Jeff Cross is joined by Travis Dommert, SVP of Talent at OneDigital, for a candid conversation around why retaining your employees is not the answer when an organization is building their workforce strategy. Travis challenges the status quo by identifying how changing one word can completey alter the way leaders show up for their people and how employees view their managers - in the best way. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Mar 07, 2023•42 min•Ep. 60
Paul LaVoie, Chief Manufacturing Officer for the State of Connecticut, joins Host Jeff Cross for a conversation about the state of manufacturing in CT and the impact the current workplace challenges are having on this. The two dive into topics such as staffing, the great resignation, the impact of a recession, bringing more work to CT and more. If you are a business leader in the CT manufacturing space, you do not want to miss this episode. Music By: Colin Cross Music...
Feb 07, 2023•42 min•Ep. 59
Before you press play, make sure you go back to Part 1 released on January 10th to hear the first part of this conversation between Host Jeff Cross and David Tate. Being able to promote accountability is essential for organizational success. But the realities of how work has changed demand a new approach to accountability that supports results, people, and a culture of continuous improvement. Host Jeff Cross sat down with David Tate, Psychologist, Executive Coach, Professor at Yale, and Co-Autho...
Jan 24, 2023•28 min•Ep. 58
Being able to promote accountability is essential for organizational success. But the realities of how work has changed demand a new approach to accountability that supports results, people, and a culture of continuous improvement. Host Jeff Cross sat down with David Tate, Psychologist, Executive Coach, Professor at Yale, and Co-Author of his recently released book, "Conscious Accountability", to discuss why accountability is so important and how can leaders can leverage this idea of "conscious ...
Jan 10, 2023•32 min•Ep. 57
With being almost a full year into the new Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave program, we decided to sit down with a CT-based employer to find out how things are going. Kate Pikul, HR Director at Avid Marketing, shares her experiences with the state plan, how her team and employees are finding the process, what hurdles they are still facing and what's next as they look at the private plan options. This 40-minute episode is packed full of great insight into the CT PFML program - take a lis...
Dec 06, 2022•42 min•Ep. 56
Rachel Waldmann, Sr. Manager of Employee Experience at Privy, joined us this week to discuss the shift we are seeing from the term "Human Resources" to this idea of the People Experience and how employees are expecting more from their employers, brought on by the pandemic and the Great Resignation. The two also get into this idea of being happy at work; why employers should care about their employee's happiness level and ways that HR professionals and other leaders in the organization can get th...
May 17, 2022•30 min•Ep. 55
Most likely, the vast majority of your employees have or are currently experiencing some sort of trauma brought on by current life events. Inflation, rising gas prices, the war in Ukraine, political divisiveness - just to name a few of the ongoing stories hitting the 5:00 news that are causing stress levels to rise and distracting us from being able to focus on our daily tasks. Adrienne Rouan, Executive Trauma Coach, sits down with Jeff Cross for a candid conversation around how we can better ma...
May 03, 2022•30 min•Ep. 54
Karen Casey, Head of People & Culture at Canidae Pet, joined Host Jeff Cross this week to discuss an important topic that all human resource professionals run into at some point in their career: managing poor performers. The two get into a great discussion around coaching vs. managing, how much time performance improvement plans should be given, how the employee's role in the workplace culture may be just as important as their performance, advice for when you have to let someone go, how to d...
Apr 19, 2022•36 min•Ep. 53
58% of those who are feeling stressed, depressed, and lonely attribute it to financial problems.* Whether employers realize it or not - a majority of their employees are dealing with financial stress which leads to distractions at work and decreased productivity. For business leaders who truly care about their employees and want them to be able to thrive at work while also being ready to retire on time, tune into this episode with Gordon Oliver at Cambridge Credit Counseling. You'll walk away wi...
Apr 05, 2022•31 min•Ep. 52
Tune into this episode with Rebecca Sarkosi, Associate & Director of Interior Design, as she dives into something most employers forget about when putting together their strategy for combatting the great resignation: the physical workplace. During this discussion, Rebecca shares with Jeff how employers can leverage their office space to help their employees feel more comfortable coming back into the office. Topics include what changes employers are making to the workplace since COVID-19, mak...
Mar 22, 2022•22 min•Ep. 51
Stephanie Johnson, Training Consultant, joins Jeff Cross on our first episode of 2022 to chat about hiring diversely. Employers have been prioritizing their DE&I efforts over the past few years, but many are still struggling with where to start. Stephanie dives into what it means to hire diversely, the steps HR professionals should take to ensure they are increasing the diversity in their applicant pool, where she finds they usually get stuck and how blind resumes and interviews play a role ...
Feb 08, 2022•29 min•Ep. 50
Sara Martin, CEO at WELCOA, joins the podcast to chat about her thoughts on the Great Resignation, how mental health has played a role, what employers and leaders should be doing about it and where she sees the future of work heading. An impactful 30-minute episode for any organization looking to support their workforce holistically in 2022. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Dec 03, 2021•31 min•Ep. 49
Sleep happens outside of work hours - so why should employers care about their employees sleeping habits? Patrick Yam, CEO at Somnology, joins Host Jeff Cross, to dive into this and address the impact sleep has on employer-sponsored health plans as well as employee wellbeing, in addition to what HR professionals can do to better support their employees during the Q4 stress. Music By: Colin Cross Music
Oct 29, 2021•27 min•Ep. 48
With less than 3 months to go before Connecticut Paid Leave Benefits kick-in, employers and HR professionals across the state are looking for answers as it relates to the process of applying and tracking claims, if a private plan option is still advantageous, and why employers should be holding on to their STD plans. Ben and Chris from the Principal join Host Jeff Cross to answer these questions and more while providing insight into what they've been seeing in other states. If you still have que...
Oct 08, 2021•40 min•Ep. 47
Dr. Mary Mulcare, Chief Medical Officer at Summus Global, joins Host Jeff Cross in a lively discussion around "care delay," covid regulations on telemedicine that are expiring and how to continue the momentum around leveraging telehealth services. A timely episode as many are heading into Open Enrollment season and are looking to continue to support their employees from a virtual standpoint. About Mary Mulcare Mary Mulcare, MD, FACEP, is Chief Medical Officer at Summus Global. She oversees the S...
Sep 24, 2021•28 min•Ep. 46
The recent surge in COVID cases nationwide has upped the stakes for employers in their efforts to maintain safe workplaces for employees. To address the risk related to unvaccinated employee status, employers are evaluating several options that range from a mandate to friendly suggestions. Tune into this episode as we tackle the most pressing questions from employers! Music By: Colin Cross Music
Sep 10, 2021•28 min•Ep. 45
Music By: Colin Cross Music
Jun 25, 2021•50 min•Ep. 44
