In this episode of Broken Benefits, Global CHRO Thomas Plath joins the show to confront one of the most overlooked — yet most consequential — challenges facing employers today: the true complexity of healthcare and the enormous responsibility placed on HR leaders to navigate it.

Thomas shares a candid look at what it feels like to inherit a benefits ecosystem that can represent hundreds of millions of dollars in spend, yet remains confusing, fragmented, and structurally misaligned with employee outcomes. His journey from “intimidation” to clarity offers a window into the broader awakening happening inside the C-suite as executives realize how deeply healthcare impacts culture, productivity, and long-term organizational strategy.

With perspective shaped by global leadership, Thomas explores why employers must shift from passive purchasers to active stewards of care — and why adopting a new playbook is no longer optional. If you’re a CHRO, benefits leader, or executive wrestling with rising costs, broken systems, and pressure to drive better outcomes, this conversation delivers the insight you’ve been waiting for.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

2:10 - Healthcare benefits are complex. Plain and simple.

7:22 - What separates healthcare from other industries

16:20 - Supply chain reform efforts

27:11 - Using savings to directly benefit the rest of your organization

36:55 - Creating importance behind the incentive structure

44:48 - Using outside sources and independent parties

50:02 - The biggest risks on the horizon

57:30 - Closing remarks