Kathryn Rodriguez

“Good employee benefits do one thing well: they show people they matter.”

I’ve been working in employee benefits for over 18 years, having started at firms including Mercer Marsh Benefits, JLT and Embark Group before joining Mattioli Woods in 2021. Over that time, I’ve advised businesses of all sizes – from small employers taking their first steps with a workplace pension, to large corporates managing complex, multi-layered benefit packages. The constant throughout is the approach: listen carefully, work hard, and always go the extra mile.

What I bring that’s perhaps a little different is a background in law. I studied at the University of Brighton, and while I took a different path professionally, that grounding in employment law has proved invaluable. When a client faces a challenge that sits at the intersection of benefits and people management (and it happens more often than you’d think), I can help them navigate it with confidence.

One area I care about deeply is employee wellbeing. Too many businesses still treat it as an afterthought, something bolted on at the end of a benefits review. I believe it belongs at the centre. When employers actively promote wellbeing benefits – mental health support, financial education, preventative healthcare – employees notice and feel valued. That can shift the relationship between employer and workforce in a way no pay rise alone can replicate.

I also help clients make better use of technology. Flexible benefits platforms, digital communications, self-service tools, which are no longer nice-to-haves. Used well, they help employers engage their teams and give employees a clear, accessible view of everything available to them. I recently worked with a client who was frustrated by poor administration and high pension charges. We reviewed their entire scheme, moved them to a provider that suited their needs, reduced their cost base and simplified the whole process. The relief was immediate and lasting.

Clients tell me I feel less like a consultant and more like a trusted friend. Someone who listens, responds, and genuinely cares about getting it right. I still believe that’s true, and I still think the best way to earn trust is simply to put the work in.