Pinnacol Assurance

Pinnacol allows employees paid and unpaid time off specifically for caregiving. If necessary, employees can also request extended leave and alternative-work schedules for caregiving. 

Full- and part-time employees at Pinnacol are offered wellness benefits, including flu shots, health screenings, health-risk appraisals, smoking-cessation programs, fitness-facility discounts, exercise programs, a weight-loss program, and stress-management training. Employees also could choose to participate in a company health fair this past year. During the past 12 months, 55 percent of the company's employees used at least one of its wellness programs or benefits. The most popular wellness program is the on-site chair massage; about 30 employees sign up per week for massages that come with minimal price tags.

Pinnacol offers its full- and part-time employees referral services to assist with care for children, grandchildren, and elders and backup care for children and grandchildren.

Benefits/Alternative-Work Arrangements: Full- and part-time employees who work 20 hours or more per week can opt for flexible or compressed work schedules, participate in job sharing, and telecommute. Full-time employees also have the option to move to part-time work on a permanent or temporary basis.

Opportunities for Retirees: Pinnacol Assurance has 175 retirees and a staff person who is responsible for staying in touch with them. The company maintains connections with retirees through regular communication, invitations to organization events or celebrations, ongoing access to retirement-planning workshops and information, and by formally acknowledging them on the occasion of their retirement.

In addition, Pinnacol launched a new Alumni program in 2006. The company maintains a roster of retirees who are available for work and offers them temporary assignments and part-time work; people in the Alumni program can also sign up to be considered for temporary assignments. In 2008, the company held its first alumni social event and released the first alumni newsletter. Pinnacol’s retirement plan enables employees to retire as early as 50 years of age, if they meet service requirements.

Age of Workforce: Twenty-six percent of Pinnacol Assurance employees are age 50+, with an average tenure of 9.3 years.