It’s not a new convention center, it’s not a championship football team, it’s not even redevelopment of our lake shore.
It’s creating top workplaces that is the secret to the economic development of Northeast Ohio, says Employers Resource Council President Patrick Perry.
“Some people call us the ‘Workplace Evangelists,'” Perry says. “We believe that the answer to this region is to develop great workplaces one organization at a time.”
Although it’s 83 years old, the ERC’s message has always been the same. Today, with more than 900 member companies representing 400,000 workers in 22 counties, the ERC’s power to help create great workplaces through its human resource information and services has never been greater.
The ERC provides 60 services including compensation data, human resource project assistance, workplace training, temporary staff, legal advice and health insurance. The most often requested service, however, has remained the same since the nonprofit organization launched.
“It’s still information,” Perry says. “Our research capabilities are light years ahead of even the major international firms locally. There’s more information here than any business wants to know.”
Besides its research services, the ERC has diversified in the last few years to keep up with the changing demands of its members, which range from one- and two-person businesses to multinational corporations.
The most popular of the recent additions is ERC Health, the organization’s health insurance program, underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Launched in 2001, the program was designed to help members with 50 or more employees take some of the uncertainty out of health insurance premiums and provide more coverage flexibility.
“Not only is there not another program like ERC Health in Northeast Ohio, but we haven’t found one like it in the United States for middle-market companies,” Perry says. “There isn’t a competitive program to ERC Health.”
The ERC studied health insurance issues locally and nationally for two years before offering the program to its members. Research showed that employers wanted the elimination of wild spikes in premium rates, better service, group pooling, rewards for low claims and mandatory wellness programs.
“It is a robust health insurance program that provides two things,” Perry says. “It provides advantages on pricing, but more importantly, it provides a longer-term solution to the health insurance equation. It provides more control for participating companies on their health insurance costs.” How to reach: Employers Resource Council, (216) 696-3636
