Tristan Hendrix launched Righteous HR with a clear mission: bring the human back to human resources. After a decade of experience—most notably at the payroll and human resource company Paycom—he witnessed firsthand how small businesses often struggle with HR, doing the bare minimum (or nothing at all) until a crisis forces their hand.
“I often work with startups and small businesses that never had HR, and who find themselves in hot water because of it. Righteous HR was born to help them get ahead of the curve while championing employee engagement,” Tristan explains.
From hiring and culture-building to compliance and employee relations, Righteous HR offers a fresh, fractional approach—expertise without the full-time price tag. Lately, one pain point keeps coming up: health benefits.
Small Business Health Insurance: "It’s Brutal Out There"
“Health insurance is one of the hardest things for small businesses to figure out,” says Tristan. “Traditional options are clunky, expensive, and honestly, not built for companies with fewer than 50 employees.”
He’s not exaggerating. Smaller companies, especially those with under 10 employees, face the toughest challenges. Participation requirements, underwriting paperwork, and the quote-gathering process can frustrate even seasoned HR pros like Tristan.
For one particular client, Tristan vetted two brokers, tapped his network, and sifted through countless group quotes and over several months. The results? Limited options, sky-high premiums, and zero flexibility.
“We got quotes for plans over $1,000 a month for basic HMO coverage. It just didn’t make sense. If you’re a small company trying to scale and grow, you need to invest in the employees you have, but you shouldn’t have to break the bank to do that,” he says.
The real frustration? Lack of choice. Every quote felt like a trade-off: high cost, limited coverage, zero flexibility for employees.
Flipping the Script With StretchDollar Partnership
Rather than boxing small teams into one-size-fits-all group plans, StretchDollar leverages ICHRA—Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements. Signed into law in 2020, ICHRA lets businesses offer employees a monthly, tax-free allowance to pick the health plan that suits them best.
To Tristan, this was a no-brainer. “There’s got to be a better way than the traditional route, where you’re just handed a plan and told to be grateful. Can we find something that is more in tune with people being consumers of their own health care? Employees should have a say in what works for their life.”
That mindset—seeing health benefits as an investment in employee experience, not just a checkbox—made StretchDollar the perfect fit.
“Our clients juggle a million things. I didn’t want my team in that same boat. StretchDollar takes away that burden while giving employees real choices. It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Tristan.
How is working with StretchDollar different?
Instead of a small business owner (or HR consultant) working with a broker to identify one plan that will hopefully work with employees (and spending countless hours doing so), with StretchDollar’s ICHRA all you need to decide is a budget. It’s as easy as:
- Deciding on a Pre-Tax Benefit Allowance: Employers set a budget and can adjust it for different groups like full-time, part-time, salary, hourly, or add extra for dependents.
- Inviting employees: Add employees to StretchDollar’s portal, where they’ll be guided through enrollment, including selecting a health plan. Licensed brokers are available for personalized support.
- Purchase and Auto-reimburse: Employees purchase their plan and submit premiums for reimbursement. StretchDollar ensures a seamless process, automatically sending reimbursements on the first of each month for the plan year.
A Win for Employees and HR Teams
“Administrative relief is a big deal," says Tristan.
“Managing traditional benefits is a huge burden. They already have so much on their plate. StretchDollar takes that off their hands—and off mine,” he explained.
It also removes the business owner or HR consultant from that weird position of getting between the employee and their doctors since employees choose their benefits confidentially.
Righteous HR is all about simplifying HR without losing the human touch. A StretchDollar partnership fits perfectly—offering a modern, self-service platform with real support when needed.
“It’s not just about checking a box. It’s about giving people dignity and support while building a business the right way.”
Now, Tristan has an option that lives up to that promise for his small business clients.
If you’re looking for a group benefit option that works for your small business, get started today with StretchDollar.
