Delivery in Wayzata, Minnesota. “I want to be kind and generous to my employ- ees all year long.” From a bouquet of flowers to gift
cards, many employees get a token of appreciation on their birthday. Fenwick tacks on an additional four hours of pay as a bonus. Jen Linehan of Beautiful Blooms by Jen in Sylvania, Ohio, lets the birthday honoree select the lunch spot for the team, buys everyone lunch, as well as the person’s favorite dessert, and provides a $100 gift card. “It’s once a year, and I want them to
feel noticed,” she says. At Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, employees receive a handwritten birthday card with a personal message and a treat. “The extra personal touch lets the
employees know that we see their con- tribution to our business and appreciate them,” says owner Holly Haveman.
Store Discounts $25+ Per Employee Annually Employee discounts on store products and flowers is another easy way to show employees appreciation. With discounts ranging from 20% to 50% off, employers find that this easy-to-implement policy is often used. “We’ve had employees do all their
holiday shopping in our store,” says Ben Heroman of Billy Heroman’s Flowerland, whose team receives discounts based on length of tenure. “With two 10,000-square-foot showrooms, and a lot of giftware, decorations, accessories and light furniture, our employees can give their friends and families some really nice gifts.” At Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts,
employees are given a budget to give fresh flowers to family and friends, says Haveman. Each employee receives 10% of the total hours worked the previous year. For example, if someone worked 962 hours, they receive $96.20 to spend. “We know how much fun it is to give
and receive fresh flowers, so we wanted to share the joy of sending flowers with our employees,” she explains.
Spa Days $25+ Per Employee Annually Sitting isn’t an option for many floral shop employees — and that can take
A Worthy Investment
In the floriculture and horticulture industries, about 40% of businesses surveyed in 2022 offer medical benefits for production employees and slightly less than 30% offer mental health benefits, according to findings from a survey by Seed Your Future and the American Floral Endowment. Businesses surveyed also indicated they offered other benefits including maternity leave, flexible working environments, and profit sharing.
Providing those benefits can be daunting and expensive for smaller businesses, some of which have turned to brokers or a professional employer organization (PEOs) to guide and manage the process (see “Can You Afford to Provide Benefits?” on page 36 for more helpful advice about budgeting for and administering benefits). Those who have been successful with benefits say it is more than worthwhile.
Health insurance not only helps employees stay healthy or get healthier more quickly, but it also helps smaller businesses compete with big box stores. Ben Heroman of Billy Heroman’s Flowerland in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, revamped his insurance offerings to attract quality employees.
Education is critical, says Sam Bowles, AAF, of Allen’s Flowers & Plants in San Diego. “We try to be very transparent in helping employees understand their options,” he says, including comparing company plans with alternatives like the Affordable Care Act.
PEOs can streamline health benefit management. Holly Haveman of Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, uses a PEO to find the best plans and offer voluntary options like dental and disability insurance. “The PEO has buying power we don’t have as a family- owned business,” she explains.
Retirement savings are another popular benefit. Jen Linehan of Beautiful Blooms by Jen, in Ohio, offers a Simple IRA with a 3% match for employees with two years of service. “Everyone eligible is doing it,” she says. At Billy Heroman’s Flowerland, employees receive a 3% contribution regardless of their own.
Providing benefits isn’t just about compliance — it’s about fostering loyalty, improving health, and building stronger teams, says Cameron Pappas, AAF, of Norton’s Florist in Birmingham, Alabama. Even small gestures, like offering life insurance, can make a big impact, he says.
— Sarah Sampson
The magazine of the Society of American Florists (SAF)
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