We interviewed Heather Patience from Health’s Auto Service in Flagstaff. Heath’s is a family-owned full-service auto shop focused on transparency, honesty, and convenience. The shop had humble beginnings. Heath, the man himself, started an automotive shop back in 2001, working a single-bay garage, just him and his dog. Now, the family business takes up the whole building… and more! The owners have expanded to six shops in Arizona, with three in Flagstaff, one in Cottonwood, and two in Scottsdale. Benefit and Financial handles group benefits for all employees.
Let’s dive into our conversation with Heather to learn how group benefits and perks impact the team at Heath’s Automotive.
Let’s break the ice…
What do you do for fun?
I like having beers with friends on patios and puzzling. I like puzzles.
What about work is fun?
I like that I get to interact with the guys at all the shops I work with. I like being their contact for some of the HR things and 401K and retirement stuff. I also like the orderliness of my tasks.
What’s your favorite season in Flagstaff, and why?
It's a toss-up between spring and fall. I really liked the in-between when it's cold enough. For a hoodie but warm during the day. You know what I mean?
Tell us more about your business…
How long have you been in business?
Heath started the business in 2000, so almost 24 years now. Heath's Auto Service was his first shop. He started out with just one bay, doing all the work himself, and then expanded to the whole building that he’s in now.
How many employees do you have?
We have 40 in Flagstaff, 15 in Scottsdale, and 5 down in Cottonwood.
How many years have you been able to offer benefits?
This is our fifth year offering some form of benefits.
What benefits do you currently offer to your employees?
We have the 401K, and then we have health insurance, dental, vision, and life insurance.
When did you start when you first start offering benefits?
We started offering benefits, the 401K and health insurance, about 7 years ago.
Tell us how benefits impacted you and your team…
Why is it important to you to be able to offer benefits to your employees?
Employee Health and work-life balance are really important in our company. And it also helps with employee retention. And the 401k actually helps employees feel invested in the company.
What does it mean to your employees to have benefits available?
I think it’s that ownership feeling, at least with the 401K. You're participating in your future, and your employer is participating in your future as well with a match. Feels like a collaboration.
What was the greatest challenge of being able to offer benefits to your team?
The challenge of offering benefits was understanding the options while trying to provide the best that we could for our employees and their families.
What do you love about working with BFS?
Oh, I love them. They're super friendly. Always willing to research a subject if they don't know the answer right away. Brandy is just wonderful on the phone! We have a little chat every time we call and then get to the business portion of it. Yeah, they're just super willing to work with our employees directly if the employees have questions, and they take good care of me on the admin side.
Ready to Elevate Your Business with Group Benefits?
If you're inspired by Heath’s Auto Service's journey and the positive impact of group benefits on their team, it's time to take action. Contact Benefit and Financial today to discover how we can tailor a benefits package that fits your organization's needs, just like we did for Heath’s Automotive. See results in employee satisfaction, retention, and overall well-being by partnering with us! Reach out now to get started or learn more about the transformative power of group benefits. Your team deserves it!
Get Started with Benefit & Financial Strategies!
Written permission from the individual or entity providing the testimonial or endorsement; the client did not receive compensation.