Leading the pack with HR support and guidance
Spot Pet Insurance faced the challenges of rapid startup growth by partnering with a trusted HR advisor. With Insperity’s HR services, it scaled efficiently, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 list, the prestigious Great Place To Work® certification and recognition from Fast Company as a Brands That Matter honoree.
The Challenge
- Rapid expansion
- Lack of dedicated HR staff
- Inefficient onboarding processes
- Maintaining company culture
The Solution
- Full-service HR
- Actionable HR guidance
- Streamlined HR reporting and analytics
- Competitive benefit plans
The Result
- Scalable HR infrastructure
- Exponential company growth
- Award-winning company culture
- Better HR efficiency
- Enhanced employee satisfaction
“As the only HR person here, Insperity has been a total lifesaver. They’ve really helped lighten my load by handling a lot of the admin stuff like benefits, payroll and compliance, so that I can focus more on the team and their needs.”
Marielle Almanzar
HR and Talent Acquisition
Spot Pet Insurance
HR lifeline for a soaring startup
For many pet owners, dogs and cats aren’t just companions – they’re family. And when their furry friend needs medical care, the cost of vet bills can feel overwhelming. That’s where insurance providers like Spot Pet Insurance come to the rescue. Founded in 2019, the Florida-based company offers customizable health insurance options to offset medical costs, giving pet owners peace of mind.
From the very beginning, the startup recognized the importance of building a scalable and robust HR foundation to support its rapid growth. That’s why they turned to Insperity. Spot Pet Insurance’s leadership was already familiar with the advantages of outsourcing HR to a professional employer organization (PEO), having experienced Insperity’s value at a previous company.
Initially without in-house HR staff, Spot Pet Insurance’s leadership team faced the challenge of managing time-consuming HR responsibilities while trying to stay focused on the company’s growth.
“I was HR for the first couple years and relied on Insperity for much of the heavy lifting related to the core functions of HR,” said Scott Taylor, president of Spot Pet Insurance. “The fact that Insperity was there for support and guidance was critical.”
With a dedicated team of HR professionals to assist with payroll processing, provide HR compliance support and serve as its benefits plan sponsor and administrator, Spot Pet Insurance was able to establish a strong foundation for growth.
“We had attendance policies to dive into. We had
onboarding practices. We had all the things that
Insperity brings us ready, set, go.”
From uncertainty to prosperity
When the Florida-based company first opened its doors in 2019 in West Palm Beach, Florida, it faced the typical challenges of any startup. Soon after, came the unimaginable. The company was quickly forced to adapt to the ever-changing workforce regulations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We closed for about six weeks and then we were all back in the office. Everyone works in the office at Spot, so we were kind of running into some challenges,” Taylor said about the widespread shift to remote work.
As a new company, the team needed efficient employee onboarding processes and attendance policies. Additional stressors included disability and leave management, recruiting and employee relations. As a startup still finding its footing, it was essential for Spot Pet to establish clear, effective procedures to support its workforce and foster a positive environment, while steering the business through the unpredictability of COVID-19.
Taylor credits the company’s success during the early days to “having the Insperity playbook” as a helpful resource, allowing the team to focus more on growth initiatives. Insperity offered comprehensive support, from assisting with policy development and employee relations to streamlining onboarding and leave management processes.
“We had attendance policies to dive into. We had onboarding practices. We had all the things that Insperity brings us ready, set, go versus having to navigate that along the way,” Taylor said.
The actionable HR guidance and resources Insperity supplied helped to optimize Spot Pet Insurance’s HR functions and helped the company thrive during the period of uncertainty.
Scaling with confidence
Shortly after its launch, Spot Pet Insurance faced a major turning point as the company grew to meet rising demands. “We opened an office in Miami because we were outgrowing the workforce in West Palm,” Taylor said. “We then had to manage multiple locations and were in significant growth mode.”
Expanding to a new location can be challenging, especially when it comes to recruiting and onboarding new hires. For early-stage companies, this can feel even more daunting. Spot Pet Insurance found success by partnering with an experienced HR advisor. With Insperity’s HR guidance, the company could better manage its HR compliance and employer-rated risks, allowing its leadership to focus on driving success.
“Partnering with Insperity has made our workplace
more efficient, supportive and focused on keeping
employees happy.”
Team of one bolstered by many
With its growing operations, Spot Pet Insurance welcomed Marielle Almanzar as its first in-house HR staff member. Almanzar, responsible for the company’s human resources and talent acquisition, expressed how Insperity’s partnership has been the backbone of her approach.
“As the only HR person here, Insperity has been a total lifesaver,” Almanzar said. “They’ve really helped lighten my load by handling a lot of the admin stuff like benefits, payroll and compliance, so that I can focus more on the team and their needs.”
By teaming up with Insperity, Spot Pet Insurance gained the time and strategic HR expertise needed to prioritize workforce initiatives that truly make an impact.
“All in all, partnering with Insperity has made our workplace more efficient, supportive and focused on keeping employees happy,” Almanzar said.
Data-driven decisions
Beyond the HR guidance, Insperity’s powerful technology platform offers robust reporting and analytics tools, empowering Spot Pet Insurance to make smarter, value-driven business decisions.
“The insights we get from things like turnover and performance trends have allowed us to spot patterns and adjust early on,” Almanzar said. “For example, analyzing turnover data helped us improve our recruitment and retention strategies.”
Data has also played a pivotal role in collecting and acting on employee feedback. Spot Pet’s leadership team uses insights on employee satisfaction, attendance and responses gathered during team check-ins to pinpoint areas for improvement. This proactive approach has helped them boost morale and enhance the overall work experience.
Almanzar also shared how having people analytics has given the company’s leadership the confidence to take bold actions when needed. Whether reevaluating employee benefit offerings or changing how the company supports employee growth, leadership has the confidence to try new initiatives because of solid insights.
Award-winning culture
Spot Pet Insurance has prioritized fostering a strong and collaborative workplace culture from day one, believing its success hinges on customer and employee satisfaction. As a result, the company grew from a small team of seven to an impressive 49 employees within its first five years.
Through its partnership with Insperity, Spot Pet Insurance employees have access to competitive and comprehensive benefits that meet their diverse needs, helping to keep them motivated and engaged. Insperity has also helped to create a more supportive work environment.
“The improved benefits and support for performance reviews have made a noticeable difference in employee satisfaction,” Almanzar said. “The resources Insperity provides have helped us handle employee issues quickly and fairly.”
Insperity’s hands-on approach provides personalized support that reinforces Spot Pet Insurance’s dedication to its people. One standout example involved an employee who missed the enrollment window for adding a newborn to their health insurance plan. “The employee was understandably worried about coverage,” Almanzar said. “Insperity really helped us out by jumping in and working directly with UnitedHealthcare. They explained the situation and got things sorted out, so we were able to add the baby to the plan, even after the deadline.”
This level of personalized service has enabled Spot Pet Insurance to focus on reaching new heights and cultivate a workplace where employees are empowered to thrive. As a result, it earned certification as a Great Place To Work in 2023, secured a place on the prestigious 2024 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies and achieved recognition as one of Fast Company’s 2024 Brands That Matter.
The Insperity difference
For Spot Pet Insurance, Insperity has been more than just an HR service provider – it has been a reliable mentor and partner at every stage of its business growth. By streamlining essential HR tasks and offering guidance on key HR challenges, Insperity has empowered Spot Pet Insurance to concentrate on growing its business while cultivating a vibrant and supportive company culture.
Spot Pet Insurance’s commitment to its partnership with Insperity remains steadfast as the business continues to evolve.
“Insperity has been lockstep with us,” Taylor said. “It does a great job of supporting us for the functions that are core to the company – startup and, now, beyond.”
Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage Insperity’s solutions for initiatives such as 401(k) implementation, employee training and career path development as it strives for sustainable growth and increased employee engagement.
One thing is clear. With Insperity by its side, Spot Pet Insurance is well-positioned to scale efficiently while pursuing its mission: creating a more caring world by helping pet families get their pets the care they need to lead longer, happier lives together.
“The improved benefits and support for performance
reviews have made a noticeable diference in
employee satisfaction.”