Point B is very dedicated to supporting its associates, and I am excited to be able to contribute to that core value in the benefits and wellness space
As a people-centered organization, we take our benefits seriously. We provide comprehensive benefits that give security, flexibility, and support to every Point B associate. We know that priorities change from person to person, which is why we offer benefits such as self-directed paid time off, meeting-free days, employee ownership through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) program and 401k matching, and various stipends to cover costs associated with health and wellness goals, professional development, and more.
We also offer benefits such as comprehensive medical packages with funding to health savings accounts, paid parental leave, and other options. We recently caught up with Los Angeles-based Benefits Manager Leslie Bruinsma to get a more in-depth look at Point B’s benefits program from her perspective, and how she brings her passion for building a foundation of health and wellness to our firm.
Why did you join Point B?
I joined Point B because of the flexibility the company offered to work from anywhere, as well as the work/life balance. I was also very excited to be able to focus on employee benefits, and dive deeper into that space. In my past I wore many hats in my human resources role, and while it was a great opportunity to gain invaluable experience, my passion is around benefits and wellness.
What do you like most about working at Point B?
The best thing about Point B is the people that I get to work with every day. All the employees have been amazing, and I’m so impressed by them.
Support is critically important to us here at Point B. What does that mean to you?
Point B is very dedicated to supporting its associates, and I am excited to be able to contribute to that core value in the benefits and wellness space. Even in the short time since I started, I’ve already had the opportunity to help roll out a new mental and behavioral health benefit for 2023 with Spring Health, which offers mental and behavioral care and assistance to our employees and their family members. We also have a partnership with One Medical, a membership-based primary care practice that’s bringing affordable and accessible care to its surrounding communities, to ensure our associates have the choice and flexibility they deserve to get the care they need.
Support goes further than just being there for one another here – it’s seen throughout our Benefits program and accessible to every single employee, whether they’re fully remote, hybrid, or work in their nearby Point B office every day. For example, our self-directed paid time off allows our associates to have full control over when they want to plan time for themselves away from their desks, and our flexible leave policy allows associates up to three months of healthcare coverage if they need to step away from their current role for any reason.
Another way that Point B supports its associates is with the wellness and workplace stipend. This benefit is intended to support the well-being of associates and can be used on items and activities that improve their health or workspace effectiveness, such as getting a standing desk for a work-from-home space (or an under-desk treadmill, which are all the rage right now), a year-long membership to a nearby gym, or even smaller things like a yoga mat or running shoes, to help people get active and give themselves something to help them in their wellness journey. It’s also designed to be flexible so that it appeals to all employees, meaning if getting a second monitor and a new keyboard for your office helps you feel better or work more efficiently, it can be used for things of that nature as well.
The workplace and wellness stipend isn’t the only way we monetarily support our employees’ goals. We also offer a yearly professional stipend for associates to use to further their external experience or education. Whether that’s taking an online certification course for a technology or strategy they’re interested in, or attending a conference that will expose them to relevant topics and networking opportunities. Or even buying some books that align with topics they’re interested in learning more about at work!
Finally, our Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are a core area of support for our associates. Employees can find smaller groups of individuals based on where they need support and how they identify. We have BRGs dedicated to Point B’ers that identify has having a disability or being differently abled (or being a support person for someone who does), and additional groups such as the Black Employee Network, ARISE (dedicated to AAPIME community members), bProud (for the LGBTQIA+ community) and more to offer an additional sense of a tight-knit community where individuals can rely on one another for deeper discussions, share thoughts on relevant topics, and more.
What about outside of work wellness – would you rather cook or dine out?
I have always hated cooking. I wasn’t good at it, and I didn’t have the time for it. But over the past couple of years, I have been taking cooking classes and trying new recipes. One of my favorite things to do is to find a new recipe, get into the kitchen, and try it with my daughter. Sometimes it is a complete failure and other times it’s a new favorite dish, but it is always a lot of fun!
