Community is Key to Employee Happiness
It might seem impossible to build a sense of community and culture across more than 35 offices, nine states and about 700 employees, but the team at INSURICA makes it happen.
Community culture was a top rave given to the company by the dozens of employees who nominated the firm as the Best Insurance Agency to Work For.
And the unified voice made INSURICA Insurance Journal’s Best Agencies to Work For Overall Winner for 2022.
“We are a relatively large firm with colleagues spread over more than 30 branch offices, but our community culture and collaborative efforts are seen and felt across the organization,” said President and CEO Mike Ross. “We have the resources of a large broker yet maintain a family atmosphere.”
INSURICA, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is among the 50 largest insurance brokers in the United States and is currently the 24th largest privately held independent agency in the country with offices located throughout Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Mississippi and Texas. According to its website, the company places over $1 billion in annual premiums for its clients.
“We have a ‘community’ culture in which our colleagues, clients and carrier partners are connected,” Ross said. “Our colleagues enjoy collaborating and innovating together. We work hard, but we also have fun doing it.”
One nominating employee said: “We have a special team with a culture of empathy and caring one another. We pull together in times of need.”
Making sure employees have the resources they need for life/work balance is critical to that mission.
“One of the many good qualities about INSURICA is their family values,” an employee said. “Management always willing to accommodate for school activities for employees with children. Always understanding with the employee who has to take care of their aging parents. These are just a few things that touch my heart and makes me proud to be a part of such a great company.”
The sense of community extends to the communities the agency serves as well.
“I love that our agency is ALWAYS there to give back to the communities we live in,” an employee said. “We have a program in the INSURICA community called U-Serve. All the branches give back in their communities with donations such as clothing, food or just time for those in need. Branches are also ready to serve with community building projects for those in need or cleanup projects. It makes a huge difference when you gather a group of people to serve, and they are all Happy to be there. INSURICANS are always happy to serve our communities.”
The company offers an extensive array of benefits and perks, including annual bonuses, generous PTO, 100% paid STD/LTD, concierge services, paid tuition benefits, office massages, periodic lunches/treats, annual family get-together, customer service week celebration, holiday celebrations, paid volunteer time off, paid bereavement leave, paid family leave for birth/adoption/foster of a child, phased retirement program, generous medical/dental plans, 401k with generous match, referral bonuses, and games for monthly gift cards.
“When COVID first hit, management of INSURICA provided constant feedback to all of the offices in terms of procedures and guidelines to follow,” remarked one nominating employee. “They very quickly got all employees set up and effectively working from home (no small feat from an IT standpoint). They continued to be a resource as we all dealt with the various waves that came and went.”
The company also offers extensive training opportunities, paid designation/certification training and remote work options. The company continues to offer remote work for most positions post-COVID, and the policy has become a great recruiting incentive, Ross said.
“Listen to your employees to learn what they are looking for in a great place to work,” Ross said. “Being a Best Place to Work is not a finite goal, it is continuous, and it takes all of us working together, being innovative, to continue to achieve that high bar.”
“To be recognized as a great place to work by our colleagues is fantastic!” he added
“However, it is our colleagues who make this a great place to work and who are deserving of the recognition.”