Workforce Support Without Added Cost
Shimon Balakhani of Colonial Life
In many industries, benefits have shifted from a perk to an expectation. Employees are no longer looking only at pay — they’re weighing what comes with it.
That’s where Shimon Balakhani’s conversations at OJBA began.
Shimon represents Colonial Life, a provider of voluntary employee benefits. At the show, he spoke with business owners about offering benefits in a way that fits how companies already operate — without changing payroll structures or adding direct cost.
The benefits themselves are voluntary and employee-paid, covering options such as dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability. Employers facilitate access through their business, while employees choose whether to enroll.
“A lot of the programs we offer can be run completely through the company, but paid for by the employee,” Shimon explained. “You’re offering benefits without hurting your bottom dollar.”
In a competitive hiring environment, he noted, employers are increasingly aware that compensation alone isn’t always enough.
“People don’t just want to get paid anymore,” he said. “They want to get paid plus benefits.”
Colonial Life also includes a basic HR software tool, Gathered, alongside its benefits offering… giving employers a way to organize employee information and benefit access without introducing a full HR system.
This was Shimon’s first time exhibiting at OJBA. A friend who had participated for several years encouraged him to attend. “You have to come check this out,” the friend told him. “The amount of people that come here is remarkable.”
The turnout exceeded those expectations, and throughout the day, Shimon met business owners and brokers evaluating how benefit offerings fit into their workforce plans.
The conversations weren’t about insurance products as much as practicality — how to support employees without changing how the business runs.
Listen as Shimon Balakhani discusses how Colonial Life works with employers to offer voluntary benefits.
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