May/June 2008, Contractor Advantage Magazine
Benefits Can Make A Difference
That is particular true today as the industry edges closer to an acute shortage of skilled workers and trades people.
By Mark Beckham
During a recent trip across Canada I heard the same complaint from contractors everywhere I went: Finding and keeping employees can be a difficult job. We are facing an enormous shortage of skilled workers and trades people as many head towards the oil sands and still others reach retirement age. Now, more than ever before, retaining and recruiting good employees is not only the key to your success, it is critical.
Your challenge as a contractor is to remain competitive by keeping the best talent.
One way to do that is provide Castlecare benefits for your workers. I have heard about employees walking away from one company to join a second company for the same amount of pay, namely because the latter offers benefits. What this tells me is people are asking: "If you do not take care of yourself, who is going to?"
Castlecare benefits were originally created to provide competitively priced benefits for independent dealers who are shareholders in Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Castle felt then, as it still does, that owners, employees and the families of Lumber and Building Material dealers should be covered for routine and catastrophic health and disability issues. It is a natural extension of Castle's philosophy: 'people caring about people.'
Extending Castlecare benefits to contractors was the logical next step. After all, if you care about independent dealers you should also care about the contractors who affiliate themselves with Castle. Which brings us to 'Castlecare for Contractors.'
As I have written in previous columns, Castlecare offers:
• Extended health care
• Dental
• Life insurance
• Dependent life insurance
• Accidental death and dismemberment
What I have found with the contractors who are calling me is that most are interested in health and dental, particularly the prescription drug coverage that is part of the health package.
What I have also found, not surprisingly, is that people are interested in different benefits at different points in their lives. This is the beauty of Castlecare. We have selected three employee benefits packages that will meet the criteria of helping employees in the event of death, disability or a health or dental issues. This has been done to simplify the process for you. All you need to do is select the package that meets your employees' needs and your budget.
Using my own experience as an example, I was not interested in life insurance when I was young and because I was not married certainly did not need dependent life insurance. That all changed when I got married and all of a sudden dependent life insurance became very important. Then we had children. Next stop, life insurance.
You get the point. It is not just an issue of making health benefits available. It is an issue of making the right benefits available at the right time. Castlecare makes this possible.
Clearly, the contractors applying for coverage are interested in the well being of their families and also themselves, but many have also shown an interest in getting benefits for their employees for they realize it is a good way to attract and keep good employees.
We all know there is a lot of talk about the shortage of skilled workers and trades people in Canada and we know the number of apprentices is increasing.
Until supply exceeds demand you will have to sweeten the offer by providing health, dental and insurance benefits as part of the overall employment package.
For more information or to get a quote. You choose the solution that meets your needs and budget.
ARCHIVES: Castlecare articles in Contractor Advantage magazine
March/April 2009 How to succeed in tough times
January/February 2009 The Bronze Benefits Plan
November/December 2008 Can you spare 15 minutes?
September/October 2008 It may not be sexy but insurance really matters
July/August 2008 What to look for in a broker
May/June 2008 Benefits can make a difference
March/April 2008 Major expansion plans
January/February 2008 Health Care now available
FREE SAMPLE Contractor Advantage Magazine
Click here and complete the form to receive an electronic edition.
