#WISHRM23 Speaker Spotlight: Laura Bermudo

As a part of the WISHRM State Conference SMILE Team, I have the opportunity to connect with speakers and exhibitors and learn more about what to expect at the upcoming conference.

Today I spoke with one of the WISHRM23 Speakers, Laura Bermudo, about her "The Reality of Fertility Impact on Employee Well-Being and Your Bottom Line" session on Friday, October 13th at 10:00 AM CST.

Q & A with Laura:

1. Who should attend your session?

Everyone, of course! It is a topic relevant to all organizations regardless of size and industry. I encourage everyone to attend because this is an area that most have not had a lot of insight into, it is a growing need and benefit trend that, even if you're not able to take action on right now, you need to be aware of and begin thinking about what you may be able to do to start working in a direction that supports employees from this perspective.

2. What is something you hope all attendees will learn in this session?

Providing benefits that do more than check the box is really important. Employers should strive to create a benefits strategy that incorporates the culture they have or are trying to achieve because benefits do make a difference, impact their team members and they speak to the culture of a company.

3. Is there anything you want attendees to know about you?

I chose to be a benefits consultant because I want to help organizations differently. Helping is my happy place! This topic, in particular, is very close to my heart. I have my own infertility journey, and we built our family through adoption, so I've experienced the effects of not having benefits built for alternate family building. Instead, I had to adjust how I used my PTO and how I took care of myself. I feel it's important to know that this touches more people than they probably know, as people typically silently suffer in these situations.

4. You've worn many HR hats throughout your career, including staffing and consulting. What made you decide to enter the healthcare and benefits industry, and what do you like about it?

While I have not formally practiced HR, but I've consulted with HR professionals on various solutions for their teams for nearly 20 years. Helping in many areas, such as staffing, executive and professional recruitment, compensation consulting and outsourced HR solutions. Benefits was one area I felt I could do more and was given an opportunity to pivot yet still add value through all of my experience with everything else. In making this change, it has allowed me to help organizations on a deeper level regarding some of the most expensive aspects of their business: people and benefits.

5. What should clients expect when working with you and your team at Hausmann Group?

There's a difference between brokering/selling insurance and consulting, and with Hausmann Group, we truly consult and provide an unmatched service level - a white glove type of high touch support. Each has a dedicated team to help the client and their employees alike. We have a dedicated employee advocacy team called HAUSKEY which offers support for all our clients employees and their dependents to help them with all things benefits; understand how their benefits work, explore financial assistance, find a provider, and anything else they might need from a benefits perspective. We constantly focus on how we can best invest in our client success and support them with a team, tools and resources to help them achieve optimal results from a benefits perspective.

6. The SHRM 2023 Employee Benefits survey, which surveyed 4,000+ organizations, showed that infertility treatment coverage is only offered by 25% of companies. What makes you passionate about this topic, and why should employers be passionate too?

Although it has yet to be offered by a large amount of companies, we do see that it is a benefit that's being asked about, needed and developed more in different ways. I'm passionate about it because when you want a culture of happy, healthy, productive employees, you need to look at every aspect of their life. The reality is, when this area isn't cared for, it can impact employees mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. Infertility impacts more people than most HR or business owners even realize; The World Health Organization estimates 1 in 6 people. I'm passionate about it not only because it's the right thing to do, but there is an opportunity to have a lasting impact on employees and the company by taking measures to care of their employees differently. Unfortunately I believe most perceive it to be too costly of a benefit to incorporate and help people navigate, so it's often not pursued. The reality is there are a lot of ways you can begin to support employees in this space.

7. Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, etc. on this topic?

We have learned so much from Building Families Alliance, they have been incredible and shared so much content, and Morgan will be on our panel. We will have some key resources and suggestions on places for people to take away with them after the session.

8. As a fellow SHRMie, what are you most excited about at WISHRM23?

This may sound cheesy, but I mean it; it’s the people. I am most excited about seeing reconnecting with so many incredible people that all too often we only see once a year at this amazing event.

9. Are there any additional things you wish for Wisconsin HR professionals and people leaders to know?

Benefits shouldn't be a once-a-year renewal item on your calendar; they should be an ongoing consultative and strategic aspect of your business. Without this approach you may risk missing out on some impactful opportunities through meaningful conversations throughout each year.

Meet Laura & Elise:

Laura Bermudo and Elise Zielicke are Employee Benefits Consultants with the Hausmann Group. They both joined the Hausmann team in Spring of 2022 and combined they have been serving HR professionals for over two decades. They have supported organizations with identifying and implementing solutions for talent acquisition, total rewards, and other outsourced HR needs as well as impacting corporate culture through building philanthropic and giving strategies within numerous corporations.

They both currently serve in roles with multiple SHRM Chapters across the state, with Laura serving as the current President of the Greater Madison Area SRHM Chapter and is a committee member for the WI State SHRM Council. Elise is on the Board of the Fond du Lac Area SHRM and serves on a committee with Greater Madison Area SHRM. Laura and Elise have a shared passion for supporting positive workplace cultures thrive by providing holistic health and wellness benefits to companies and their employees.

Visit Laura at the WISHRM23 Exhibitor Hall:

At the Hausmann Group, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, and being the very best for our clients, employees, and community so they can reach their highest potential.

We are a full-service independent insurance agency with offices located in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From our neighbors in Wisconsin to large companies across the country, we offer wide-ranging insurance and business services to support our clients now and into the future.

Hausmann Group is rooted in integrity, driven by excellence, and values being a part of our community. We bring these tenets of strength to life for both clients and employees through our core values.

Website: Hausmann Group | WI Insurance (myhaus.com)