Given the strain that health care costs can put on your employees, doing your best as their employer to keep that money in your workers' pockets can have an enormous positive impact on their lives. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Your employees are a huge part of what drives your company's success, and they deserve a benefits plan that reflects the time and effort they give to you and your business. This was the overarching concept that pushed me to stop being a traditional broker and become a business- and employee-focused benefits adviser instead, and it hit me when my own employees stepped up in a way I never anticipated.

On February 26, 2013, I got the news that my son had passed away unexpectedly at the age of 22. Over the next two years, my loss left little room for anything else in my mind, and I was mentally, physically and emotionally unable to run my business as I had been before the tragedy. Were it not for the efforts of my employees, my business may very well have gone under, but instead, they helped carry both me and the company through a very difficult time.

Related: How to retain good employees? Make them feel valued.

What my employees did for me during the most difficult time of my life ignited a new passion within me, and I redirected my purpose towards helping employees and employers receive a better health care experience. I stopped seeing benefits as just another expense that had little to offer business owners and their workers, and now, I dedicate my work to helping people save more money while getting high-quality health care.

Here's why your benefits plan can and should be used to show appreciation for your employees:

More than a piece of paper

Many business owners may see their benefits plan as just another abstract document they have to sign, but your employees view their health care as so much more than just another expense. The quality of your benefits plan can determine not only your employees' health, but also their financial well-being and the health of their family members.

Just as my employees took care of my business when I was incapacitated by my personal tragedy, you can take care of your employees during difficult times by ensuring that their health care needs are provided for. Imagine, for example, that your employee suffers an accident or is diagnosed with a life-changing disease. You may not be able to turn back time and undo the harm that has befallen them, but by providing them with a great benefits plan, you can ensure that:

• They have access to the best possible health care
• They're not paying unnecessarily high cost for equal-quality services
• They're educated about their options and have control over their health care

These factors can make a huge difference in removing additional stressors for employees who are already facing a difficult time in their lives.

A better financial future

You know firsthand how hard your employees work for their money, and a very large portion of that work will go towards paying for their health care. In 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that health care costs surpassed $10,000 per person for the first time, and that price tag has only continued to skyrocket since then. Deductibles alone can cost thousands of dollars, and your employees may or may not have enough saved up to pay for them immediately if they require medical attention.

Given the strain that these costs can put on your employees, doing your best as their employer to keep that money in your workers' pockets can have an enormous positive impact on their lives. Imagine what a difference a few thousand dollars in reduced deductibles, copays, and premiums could make for an employee who needs a new car, is struggling to pay bills, or simply wants a well-deserved vacation. Helping your employees make better financial choices for their health care can drastically improve their lives.

An opportunity to give back

If you've hired employees who go the extra mile when it comes to their work, your benefits plan should do the same for them. Work with your adviser to find creative ways to develop a plan that delivers top-quality benefits with a little something extra. Consider options such as:

• Technological solutions – Telehealth services can give your employees access to medical professionals at all hours of the day, giving them reassurance that they'll never be stranded even if they have a medical concern at 2 a.m.
• Concierge services – If you have an employee who requires an extended hospital stay, consider providing them with a concierge who can make their time recovering away from home a more positive and convenient experience.
• Financial incentives – Paying $3,000 to incentivize your employee to drive to a medical facility across town that offers a procedure for $15,000 less than a closer option can help both you and your employee.

Your benefits plan has the potential to be a great way for you to show your employees that you, too, are willing to give 110 percent to show your appreciation.

The emotional side of benefits

No matter what goods or services your business offers, it's ultimately a human-based company. Using your benefits plan as a way to treat your employees like the valued people they are instead of a means to an end creates a culture of compassion in the workplace. When times get hard, that compassion can go a long way.

James Blachek is co-founder of The Benefits Group.