Page 79 - Anne Bruce - Building A HIgh Morale Workplace (2002)

To Boost Morale, Alter the Environment 59

“you’ve got it maid” discounts on maid service, and infant car
seats to new parents.
MBNA, Wilmington, Delaware—Employees who say, “I do”

receive generous wedding gifts from the firm, including limo
service on their wedding day, $500, and a week of vacation.
Other employee perks that enhance the workplace include
on-site dry cleaning, shoe repair, and salon services.
WRQ, Inc., Seattle, Washington—Quirky but true, this integra-

tion software provider offers employees a nap room with
futons and dock space for their kayaking commuters—a use-
ful benefit in the great Northwest.
Edward Jones, St. Louis, Missouri—New moms don’t sacrifice
money for maternity leave. For six weeks after delivery, the
investment firm pays 75% of a broker’s average commissions

for the previous half year.
J.M. Smucker, Orrville, Ohio—The famous jam maker enriches
the environment with ongoing job rotations to keep employ-
ees motivated and interested.
BMC Software, Houston, Texas—No dress codes, no titles on

doors, no assigned parking spaces. The result? No uptight
hierarchy or top-down management.
Qualcomm, San Diego, California—This tech company gives
$250 of support for any employee’s kid who plays on a
sports team and it also allows employees to accumulate as
much unused vacation time as they like.

REI, Kent, Washington—New dads get two-weeks paid leave to
be with their babies.
American Cast Iron Pipe, Birmingham, Alabama—This compa-
ny features convenience for workers by housing an on-site
clinic with primary-care physicians and dentists, to provide

free medical and dental services for company employees,
retirees, and their family members.
Capital One, Falls Church, Virginia—Employees’ first year on
the job earns them three weeks’ paid vacation.
Dell Computer, Round Rock, Texas—The company gives every
employee a week off at Christmas and 10 paid days a year

for personal use.