SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and HOUSTON, Texas, June 1, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today the successful launch of their 2017 Energy Forum in Houston and that they will host two additional Energy Forum presentations in Dallas and Oklahoma City next week.
EPIC’s Ascende Division, their southwest regional hub and the premier benefit consultant for the oil and gas industry, kicked off its annual Energy Forum roadshow in Houston on Thursday, May 25 moments after OPEC announced it would extend the status quo an additional nine months—curbing oil output until the end of March 2018.
The event attracted 50 different energy companies for a total showing of nearly 200 HR executives and consultants.
The EPIC Energy Forum provides HR professionals in the energy industry the opportunity to learn the results of EPIC’s annual Energy Acumen Employee Benefit Plan Survey and network with their peers facing similar market challenges. The Energy Acumen survey is the leading source of benefits benchmarking information for the oil and gas industry and provides sector-specific reports, as well as a unique report on international assignee benefits to companies that participate in EPIC’s Global Employee Benefit Plan Survey.
In addition to a detailed overview of EPIC’s employee benefit plan survey data, Houston attendees also heard from a panel of HR executives representing Archrock, Diamond Offshore and Pioneer Energy Services, who candidly discussed key HR issues impacting energy companies.
Employers use the survey’s benchmarking data to gauge where their company stands among peer companies in the industry, leveraging the survey’s reported trends to support their strategies with executive leadership.
“The first words out of my CEO’s mouth when we talk benefits strategy is ‘What is the market doing?’” said Jane Johnapelus Munoz, director of Global Employee Services at Diamond Offshore. “The second question out of my CEO’s mouth is ‘Are we going to hit the Cadillac Tax, and when?’”
The panel also encouraged putting heightened focus on employee retention, since no one can afford to lose key talent. The key is communicating each employee’s total rewards and not failing to promote benefit offerings that help your company stand out, panelists noted.
By using the survey’s benchmarking data to realign HR programs and benefit strategies so that they offer better value to employees at a lower cost, companies can make more meaningful decisions employees will appreciate.
“2017 may not be the year of growth, but for us, it’s the year of the employee,” said Sharon Paul, VPHR at Archrock. “Give your savings back to your employees. This year, we put our savings back into our employees’ pocket by increasing HSA contributions and lowering premiums.”
EPIC’s Carl Pilger, director of Employee Benefits Compliance Services also delivered an ACA compliance update to a crowd of HR executives who agreed they’d rather keep compliance issues in their broker or consultant’s hand so they can divert attention back to their employees.
Companies who weren’t able to make the kickoff presentation in Houston are encouraged to join EPIC in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 3 p.m. at the Hilton – Arlington or in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Thursday, June 8 at 3 p.m. at the Tasting Room.
Click here to RSVP to the event: http://go.epicbrokers.com/l/322651/2017-05-03/34yb.
About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a “Best Place to Work” in multiple regions and as a “Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry” nationally.
EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.
With run rate revenues approaching $300 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.
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News Source: EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants
