Save the date – 2024 Open Enrollment is November 7th – 17th, 2023!

This is your annual opportunity to enroll or make changes to your benefits. You should also use this time to add or drop dependents, update your beneficiary, and/or set contributions for your 2024 FSA account.

Informational postcards will be mailed out to all eligible employees with QR codes to access your 2024 Benefit Guides. When available, guides will also be posted on the SQ Employee Dashboard.

This year’s open enrollment is passive. If you would like to keep all benefits the same, your 2023 enrollment will roll over to 2024 with no action taken. The only exception is your flexible spending contributions. If you would like to contribute to your FSA for 2024, you will need to call the enrollment center and make your elections – it will not roll over! Please carefully review your options as elections you make (or rollover) will be binding from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

The SQ Benefit Service Center can be reached at (855) 892-0067 and will be staffed with benefits counselors to answer your questions and enroll you for 2024.

Eligibility

Full-time employees are eligible for benefits on the first of the month after 60 days of employment if they are averaging 30+ hours per week.

Benefit Cards

Employees who make new elections during open enrollment should watch their mail for new benefit cards by January 1st. If no changes are made, do not throw your cards away! You will continue to use them for 2024.

Have questions? Email benefits@stratospherequality.com

In the October issue of our employee spotlight, we are shining a light on Benjamin Castro, Project Manager for the Arizona operations team.

Prior to coming to Stratosphere Quality, Benjamin worked in the hospitality industry for almost 20 years! He has overseen many operations which he credits for strengthening his people skills and management experience. This experience also showed Benjamin that a simple smile can help make someone’s day, regardless of what industry you work in.

Benjamin originally applied for the new project manager position in Arizona on Indeed. Here, he credited Locke Davis with the best interview experience of his career.

Benjamin left that interview saying to himself, “I need to work for this company.” And in February 2023, Benjamin started his new career path with SQ on the Arizona operations team!

Benjamin hit the ground running, learning SQ, his team, his role, and his new customer. From his former position, he brought with him a daily regimen of sending his team a “Quote of the Day” email each day as a simple gesture to have daily engagement with the team and provide a positive message to start the day, every day! He enjoys the learning atmosphere with his team and his leaders, they all learn from each other and are happy to help when someone needs it.

Benjamin would say to a new employee, ask questions when you don’t understand. Show up every day and have an open mind and a learning mindset. And it is okay not to be perfect, we are all perfectly imperfect!

What should you know about Benjamin?

Benjamin was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. He has been married for 15 years and has 3 daughters, 2 of whom play instruments, so there’s always a concert at his house. Benjamin enjoys spending time with his family, cooking for them, and chauffeuring his kids where they need to go.
If Benjamin could fix a world problem, it would be to end hunger. Everyone deserves a meal! Thanks for all that you do Benjamin!

Do you have a favorite recipe from your childhood, a recipe for a dish that everyone wants you to bring to a pitch in, or maybe a favorite from online? We would love for you to share your special recipes with us!

Send them in to sqnewsletter@stratospherequality.com 

Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Submitted by Katie Mannell