We hosted a wonderful event on on April 11, 2025 with an expert panel, who shared insights on how employers can enhance workforce health and productivity.
Examples of topics that were explored during the talk:
- Lessons from leading publicly traded corporations on balancing employee health and profitability.
- How HR and finance leaders navigate competing priorities in health promotion strategies.
- Actionable strategies for mid-sized employers, drawn from Fortune 500 best practices.
Thank you to our panelists for sharing their expertise with us, Valhalla’s clients, and other guests!
Key themes and insights
The following were identified by attendees as some of the key insights provided:
– Change doesn’t come from the top alone
– Middle managers must believe and model values
– Employees respond to relationships and education
– Fee-for-service rewards volume, not wellness
– Administrative costs exceed $1.6 trillion annually
– Even good actors face disincentives for smart care
– Include employees early in wellness design
– Adapt to cultural norms (domestic and global)
– Meet people where they are: bring programs to them
– Education is more effective than incentives
– Budgeting and plan literacy reduce stress
– Engagement starts with trust and understanding
– Value-based care has become box-checking
– Direct Primary Care rebuilds trust and impact
– Integration of mental health is essential
– Health access = plan design, care navigation
– Well-being = culture, inclusion, recruitment
– Align each with budget, voice of employee, goals
The Valhalla advantage
Valhalla Business Advisors is proud to bring boutique services to clients; As a client, details around topics like updates to overtime rules can feel complicated; Our team and resources can help you. Feel free to reach out to anyone on Team Valhalla to discuss further!
2025 Valhalla Insights Events Calendar
| Topic | Speakers | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness in the workplace: A Panel Discussion | Panel Discussion: Allison Hess of Geisinger Health Plan, Ben Hulburt of Alto Financial, Zack Papalia, Ph.D. of Brown and Brown, and local HR leader, Cassandra Kitko | 4/11 | Toftrees |
| Small business issues: Succession, Healthcare, Insurance, Retirement, Current Issues | Thomas Schrack, Esq. of McQuaide Blasko and Ben Hulburt of Alto Financial | 5/9 | Toftrees |
| Pharma / GLP-1 | Andy Dum, Director Commercial Formulary and Clinical Programs at Capital Blue Cross | 6/27 | Penn Stater |
| HR Update | Phil Miles, Esq. of McQuaide Blasko | 7/25 | Penn Stater |
| Individuals | health insurance, retirement, estate planning, LTC | Douglas Lovisky, CPA Esq. and Tye Cressman, Esq. of Loviscky & Cressman and Ben Hulburt of Alto Financial | 8/29 | Toftrees |
| ICHRA 101 | Speaker to be announced. Stay tuned! | tbd | tbd |
| Trends in the health benefits marketplace | Panel Discussion: Panel to be announced. Stay tuned! | tbd | tbd |