Case Study
River View Cemetery chose Xenium as its HR, payroll, and benefits solution in 2018. Their leadership was drawn to the one-stop-shop solution offered by our company, and they needed it to find the freedom to focus on the business itself.
While they anticipated strong service and support, they found much more. They found a true partner in fulfilling their mission to provide compassionate care for grieving families.
About River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery was established by several of Portland’s founding families in 1882. It bears the distinction of being a nonprofit cemetery and is deeply connected to the community. Each person buys an interment right, which means the owner of a grave, crypt, or niche becomes part owner of the cemetery.
Unlike most cemeteries, River View has become a popular place for recreation. Cyclists ride its trails and locals take contemplative walks while enjoying stunning views of the Willamette River. Life and loss flow together every day at River View.
Their staff takes great pride in the rich history of the property, and they are all dedicated to providing a place of peace and healing for those who need it.
How to best take care of the caretakers?
River View has a staff of roughly 50 employees in four different departments: Sales, Administration, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, and of course, Ground Maintenance. They constantly look for ways to improve their services and operations, and when Executive Director Rachel Essig took on the role in 2018, she was deeply impressed with her new team.
We’re in a business of emotion. What we do with our client families is very tender all the time. And so, that’s not easy. My staff are a bunch of givers. They’re wonderful, and I often talk to them about self-care and finding rest for themselves.
Previously, HR functions had all been absorbed by senior management. River View had no formal HR staff. Rachel goes on to explain,
When I saw that – in my leadership mind, I thought, “That’s a lot of risk!” We need to spread that risk out and have somebody help us who absolutely knows all of the laws in terms of human resources and how to interact with employees.
Rachel recognized the need for help, and there simply wasn’t bandwidth to fulfill the HR and payroll challenges in front of them.
- Processing payroll properly had become a struggle.
- Internal systems needed to be developed for better record keeping and administration.
- Handbook updates were needed for compliance
- And most of all, there would be opportunities to further strengthen and nurture River View’s team of givers and build a strong HR culture to support them.
At stake were two major priorities. First, Rachel needed the freedom to focus on leadership and vision as River View looked towards the future. Most importantly, the staff needed support in their quest to offer compassionate care to their clients.
Xenium’s Complete HR + Payroll Service
The Complete HR + Payroll program was developed by Xenium to relieve small to mid-sized businesses of the burdens of HR. It provides a complete solution for HR, payroll, and, if optioned, benefits administration.
River View Cemetery now had an outsourced, dedicated team of specialists in their corner. They had a dedicated HR Business Partner to manage their overall program, and they also had a Payroll Specialist and Benefits Manager leading the charge for those areas. These three leaders would be supported by Xenium’s full team of more than 80 specialists and experts.
HR Business Partner
HR
Xenium built critical infrastructure like the employee handbook and kept the business updated and compliant with changes in regulations. Also, River View now had coverage for the hiring and onboarding process as well as guidance in managing problems with employees.
Payroll Specialist
Payroll
River View now had all of their HR and payroll functions united under Xenium’s software platform. The waterfalls of paperwork which accompany any change in an employee’s status were now automated and integrated across all HR and payroll functions.
Benefits Manager
Benefits Administration
River View’s leadership team was now free from the burden of benefits enrollment and managing changes in coverage for employees.
Workshops at Xenium
Training and Education
Xenium provides optional live and on-demand continuing education workshops for clients. River View’s leadership now had a go-to source for staying up to date on best-practices in managing their team. Their employees had training they could attend to help build a consistent workplace culture.
As I was looking for a payroll company, about midway through the search I realized I really needed HR support. I loved that Xenium had a one-stop shop that was all encompassing and that I could get the support I we needed for our employees.
– Rachel Essig, Executive Director, River View Cemetery
The Discovery of a Trusted Partnership
River View came to Xenium for the one-stop-shop HR, payroll, and benefits services, but they found there was much more behind the convenience of our program. There was a team who cared deeply about their people and their success.
Learning the Industry
Rachel Essig was impressed by her interactions with Xenium’s team, but one of those relationships stands above all as being crucial to success. Every business in the Complete HR + Payroll program is given a dedicated HR Business Partner.
The word partner is very intentional, which Rachel soon discovered.
One thing that impresses me the most is how our HR Business Partner, Nicole Blevins, caught on to death care operations. When we talk to her, she understands what we’re saying.
For Nicole, learning the specifics of River View’s industry was simply step one in ensuring she could offer quality service to the team.
I have great memories of partnering with Rachel and understanding from her what the industry looks like, and she learned a lot from me about HR. We learn from each other, and we’re able to collaborate really well to serve the needs of the employees as well as the clients.
Becoming Part of the Team
Rachel was surprised to find that Nicole and other Xenium employees would come to her all-staff meetings and safety committee meetings. Xenium was not only responding to needs but taking a very personal, proactive approach to the work. As Rachel told us,
They’re very engaged. They make their presence known not only to the management team, but also to the employees. So, there’s a face to a name, and it’s not just an 800 number that we’re calling.
Nicole, and all of her HR Business Partner peers at Xenium, wouldn’t have it any other way.
I love working with Riverview because I really feel like I’m a part of their internal team. I love coming out on site and seeing the beautiful grounds and getting to interact with their employees. There, I’m able to really understand their needs, what they need to be successful in their roles, how to make it a great work environment for them.
Responsive in Times of Need
Rachel Essig has found Nicole to always be just a phone call away, and if her HR Business Partner is unavailable, she calls Xenium’s main number to access the knowledge of more than 80 HR, payroll, and benefits specialists.
There’s always somebody there, and though they might not know us intimately, like Nicole would, they are able to help us troubleshoot.
Rachel thought back to COVID and how vital Xenium’s support was during that time. River View Cemetery’s staff was considered in the same class as first responders and medical staff.
We had the same requirements as first responders for COVID with vaccinations and such, and we couldn’t stop working. So, when I would have questions about what’s the latest changes were with the CDC or any other regulations, I would just call the main number at Xenium and somebody was able to inform me.
Xenium partners with River View on more than HR. We partner with them to take great care of their clients.
By hiring Xenium as a one-stop-shop solution for HR, payroll, and benefits, River View Cemetery went from having no support to having an army of caring, expert specialists carrying the load.
Organizations like River View are able to use Xenium’s complete, integrated solution to find the freedom to focus on casting vision for employees and serving their clients. Along the way, they find they have a true partner in their efforts to build a positive, empowering workplace culture.
Taking care of their employees who deal with vulnerable people experiencing loss is an honor. It’s really an amazing feeling to know we can support them in the outstanding, compassionate work they’re doing in the community.
– Nicole Blevins, HR Business Partner, Xenium HR
Wrapping Around Day-to-Day Operations
If I didn’t have an HR company like Xenium by my side, I would be spending a lot of my time being the HR department. Somebody in my position needs to always be thinking of the future and then also dive back down into the present to be with employees. Xenium is helping me make sure that Riverview goes on for another 140 years, if not more.
– Rachel Essig, Executive Director, River View Cemetery
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