An overwhelming number of employees indicated they wanted pet insurance
By Pam Foster, PetFriendlyOffice.com
Goodwin Motor Group, with five locations in Maine and New Hampshire, surveyed its 190 employees in 2024 about their benefits package.
Jody Savage, SPHR, Human Resources Director at Goodwin Motor Group (pictured here), explained.
“I initiated a new benefits survey, and we have a lot of pet lovers here. An overwhelming number of employees indicated they wanted pet insurance.
So we went ahead and offered it starting in 2025 … adding it to our benefits for this open enrollment!”
This is becoming a more common request these days. And more of an offering for employees.
An HR Daily Advisor article noted, “Studies show that 63% of pet owners believe pet-friendly benefits increase their likelihood of staying with a company.”
In a survey report by OnePackPlan by PetPartners, a whopping 58% of surveyed pet owners “would prefer pet insurance to health and wellness programs.” (Imagine that!)
In a joint study by habri (human-animal bond research institute) and OnePackPlan by PetPartners …
• 78% of HR Managers believe pet insurance is an important benefit to offer employees.
• 87% agree offering pet insurance visibly demonstrates company care for employees' families
And, Shortlister reports, “A growing number of employers (64%) now provide pet insurance as an option for employees, with a small percentage (3%) even covering the entire cost.”
Well, there you go!
So let’s get back to my conversation with Jody Savage and her experience as the Goodwin Motor Group HR Manager. I asked her these questions:
How did you go about researching pet insurance companies?
Jody: “Our benefits broker did the research for us.”
Aha! How did you go about finding and using a benefits broker who covers pet insurance as part of their services?
Jody: “I requested that my current broker look into this for me. We have used this broker for three years now, and they’ve helped us in unique ways when we ask them to.
We went with the solution he came up with … and the pet insurance company was easy to implement. They seemed to have good pricing with group discounted rates for our team.”
Do you also offer this benefit to new hires?
Jody: “Yes, we do."
And how has it played into recruitment efforts?
Jody: “It’s a nice addition to our job advertisements. Potential new hires often remark on how nice a benefit it is.”
Would you recommend that other HR Managers offer this benefit?
Jody: “Yes, it’s a low lift item that adds value to our benefit package.”
Full transparency: every time I interview a professional in the HR or pet industry, I learn something new about the ways companies explore and set up pet-related benefits. This time, I learned more about employee benefits brokers.
Perhaps you’re learning, too.
If you’d like to know more about benefits brokers, I found this terrific Paylocity article series as a great starting point: HR’s Guide to Employee Benefits Brokers.
Already comfortable with your benefits broker? Ask them to look into offering pet-insurance to your employees. As I noted above, 87% of HR Managers agree that offering pet insurance visibly demonstrates company care for employees' families. It could enhance your workplace culture, too.
PetFriendlyOffice.com note: Many thanks to Jody and Goodwin Motor Group for sharing their insights!
About Goodwin Motor Group
With a selection of convenient locations throughout Maine and New Hampshire, we provide a one-stop shop. Alongside exceptional customer service, you can expect to enjoy an impressive selection of new and used models perfect for your daily driving needs. Before visiting one of our locations, we encourage you to learn more about everything Goodwin Motor Group has to offer.
About PetFriendlyOffice.com
If you’re an HR Manager or business owner, you’ll appreciate having “All the Things to Make Pet-Related Benefits Easy” in one place. With my Pet-Friendly Office DIY System (checklists, templates, policy guidance, and more), you can set up everything yourself. Or let me handle most of it for you through my Pet-Friendly Office CONCIERGE SYSTEM. Can’t allow pets in the office? I can help you choose other popular benefits for your company. Ultimately, you’ll be the hero who leads a pet-friendly culture, increasing employee retention and attracting top talent.
Let’s make quick work of your mission. Start with this FREE resource: HR SURVIVAL GUIDE to Pet-Related Benefits — Pam Foster, your Chief Pet-Friendly Officer
Want your company’s pet-friendly story to be featured in a PetFriendlyOffice.com article? Contact me at pam@contentclear.com