Case Study
More than 20 years ago, the leadership team at Sunstone Circuits realized that to keep their focus on innovation and growth, they would need a strategic partner in HR, payroll, and benefits administration.
Today, they’re not only a forward-thinking leader in printed circuit boards, but they are also a leader in Oregon for their commitment to employee wellness. The past many years have seen Sunstone win multiple awards for the workplace culture they’ve built.
In short, they’ve managed a commitment to growth in both their core competency and the way they care for their people.
But how did they do it with only one full-time HR resource on staff in a team of more than 100 employees?
About Sunstone Circuits
Sunstone Circuits was founded under the name Electronic Controls Design in 1972. They began their life in the frontier of computer technology and have stayed there for more than 50 years.
Sunstone prints custom circuit boards for a wide range of clients including military, industrial, entertainment, medical, and automotive. As partner Rocky Catt says, “We have circuit boards on the bottom of the ocean, in space, and everything in-between.”
When the internet came of age, Sunstone Circuits was one of the first to embrace its power to fulfill online orders. Shortly after that, they changed the CAD capabilities equation for clients by empowering them with a free version for designing custom boards. They were also first in their industry to offer 24/7/365 support by phone, email, and online chat. Over the years, they’ve received numerous industry awards for their commitment to innovation.
And yet, it’s noteworthy that many of their awards in recent years have taken a different focus. They have been recognized year after year as a leader in employee wellness.
How does one HR resource hold the “family” together?
Ask any employee about the culture at Sunstone, and you’re likely to hear the words “feels like a family” spoken. As partner Rocky Catt explains,
We’ve always considered ourselves to be a family-oriented company. We’ve always enjoyed picnics and Christmas dinners. We have several team members from the same families working with us. I’m proud of the culture we’ve built. Our vision is really customer first, and at the same time, one of our credos is, “If you can’t take care of your employee, you can’t take care of the customer.”
And yet, this company of more than 100 employees has only one dedicated resource for human resources, HR Manager, Debi Coburn. Xenium’s Complete HR + Payroll services are designed to wrap around a professional like Debi with all of the support she needs to lead an empowering employee culture.
“When I first started in this position, what was keeping me up at night was that there was a lot of responsibility in caring for so many employees. Once I came to realize it wasn’t all on my shoulders and that I had these resources through Xenium, it was a huge relief, and it allowed me to calm down and really enjoy the role.”
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 management solution for HR, payroll, and, if optioned, benefits administration.
Since the year 2000, Sunstone Circuits has had Xenium’s outsourced, dedicated team of specialists in their corner. They have a dedicated Xenium HR Business Partner to manage their overall program, and they also have a Payroll Specialist and Benefits Supervisor leading the charge for those areas. These three leaders are supported by a team of more than 80 specialists and experts.
As Rocky Catt says, “I don’t see Xenium as just an extension of our team. They’re always available for special needs, and things like the handbook they developed and the training they offer have been invaluable. It’s like they’re truly part of the team.”
HR Business Partner
HR
Xenium built critical infrastructure like the employee handbook and now keeps the business updated and compliant with the constant changes in regulations. Sunstone also has coverage for the hiring and onboarding process as well as guidance in managing the unpredictable challenges with employees.
Payroll Specialist
Payroll
Sunstone has 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 are automated and integrated across all HR and payroll functions. They also use Xenium’s timekeeping solutions to track labor.
Benefits Specialist
Benefits Administration
Sunstone has opted into both benefits administration services and the 401(k) plan offered at Xenium. Debi has an entire team of experts backing her up and relieving the workload of benefits enrollment and managing changes in coverage for employees.
HR & Manager Training Consultant
Ongoing Education
Xenium provides an ongoing series of continuing education workshops for clients, and for years, Sunstone’s leadership has had a go-to source for staying up to date on best-practices in managing their team.
What it looks like to wrap HR support around a business.
Behind the services mentioned above is a comprehensive approach to partnering with a business in caring for their people.
As Lacy Partipilo, Xenium’s Director of Client Success explains, “We’re able to build processes and systems, but there’s also the unpredictable stuff that you can’t really expect, so we’re able to jump in and support on those when we’re needed.”
Wrapping around a business means taking action in two fundamental ways:
Proactive Services designed to build the right culture and foundations for the business.
Responsive Services designed to support a skilled HR Manager like Debi as she navigates constant regulatory changes and unexpected issues.
Proactive HR Services
Workplace Culture
Over the years, Xenium has helped Sunstone develop, update, and evolve their employee handbook and establish critical procedures like the hiring process.
“I would describe Sunstone’s culture as one that really cares about its employees. They were one of the first companies that we worked with that built a wellness program. They really care about the livelihood of their people, and it really is a community. You feel that when you walk around here.”
– Lacey Partipilo, Director of Client Success at Xenium
On-Demand HR Training
Both Debi and Sunstone’s managing team members have access to ongoing training events, most of which are available on-demand online and create minimal disruption to their workflow.
“It’s been a great way to give people some training in just kind of a one-off basis that we’re not pulling in a whole big group at once. People can kind of just take some time away from the floor. They’ve been impactful and really enriching for our employees.”
– Debi Coburn, HR Manager at Sunstone Circuits
Responsive HR Services
A “Thinking Partner”
From Sunstone’s dedicated HR Business Partner at Xenium to the 80+ team members behind her, Debi has access to deeply experienced expert on any HR, payroll, or benefits question imaginable.
“If we have a question about wages, about payroll, we have access to experts in those areas – benefits, 401k, all of that. There’s someone that knows exactly the right answer. We know that any legal updates that happen, we will be informed and will be in compliance. It’s astounding.”
– Debi Coburn, HR Manager at Sunstone Circuits
Navigating “Sticky Situations”
Over the years, Sunstone has inevitably run into difficult situations with employees where Xenium’s guidance was invaluable. Recently, during the pandemic, Sunstone was a company whose employees couldn’t work remotely, and Xenium helped them navigate the constantly-evolving situation to develop a safe work environment for employees.
“When there’s a tough or challenging situation that a client has to go through, Xenium really is that voice of reason in seeing all sides of the situation, bringing in objectivity, and really helping find a path forward.”
– Lacey Partipilo, Director of Client Success at Xenium
How Sunstone continues to win awards for excellence in HR.
After more than two decades of partnership and support wrapping around the business, Sunstone Circuits is well-established as a leader in workplace culture in Oregon, including:
- Competitive Salaries
- Comprehensive Benefits Packages
- Forward-Thinking Wellness Programs
Make no mistake, no matter what support an organization like Xenium provides, the recognition Sunstone has earned as one of the Top 100 Places to Work in Oregon or The Top 5 Healthiest Employers in Oregon only happens when a company’s leadership is dedicated to the cause.
Perhaps one of the best examples of their commitment lies in Debi’s experience and her commitment to engage with Xenium to support her.
“Without Xenium by my side, I would probably not be able to go home at a regular time. So much of the work of running the HR department here on a day-to-day basis is handled by Xenium. And having all of the experts at my disposal has been a huge growth factor for me as a professional. You learn something new every day.”
So, from the HR Manager on down, Sunstone Circuits is committed to supporting employees in living a healthy work-life balance and experiencing fulfillment in their roles. Xenium is proud to partner with them in that quest day after day.
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