Page 270 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

Employee Well-Being C257

Work survey results. A common employee complaint was having to give
back most of their salary increase from the previous year because of an
increase in their share of the health-care premium. One employee re-
marked: “Twice a month I look at my paycheck and realize that I’m just
working to pay for my health insurance.” To this employee and many
others, employee benefits are no longer an “intermittent” need, but
one that hits home with every paycheck. Because of the reasons already
stated, the quality of benefits, or lack thereof, is now “top of mind”
for employees. It is no longer an episodic driver—important when we
change jobs or when we have claim activity. It is now a full-fledged
driver that most employees see and feel at the same level of importance
as the other five drivers we outlined in the previous chapters.

: EMPLOYEES WEIGH IN ABOUT BENEFITS

Although the above comments speak volumes, here are additional
comments selected from both the engaged and disengaged who par-
ticipated in Best-Places-to-Work events over the last several years:

: Voices of Disengagement
Voices of Engagement
:
“They need to keep a close eye
:
“I have worked for two other large
on employee benefits. It seems
corporations in the past, and the
the coverage continues to de-
benefits I receive now are head and
shoulders above any former place of
rise. This is a problem nation-
employment.” cline, yet the cost continues to
: “I came on with an agreement that wide as I understand it. But that
I would work part-time, and the firm doesn’t mean our company has
has been tremendously accommodat- to follow suit with the rest of the
ing. I accrue benefits at a part-time pack.”
rate (vacation and sick time) and get : “We need better benefits . . .
employer-provided life insurance and vacation, holiday, and sick leave
long-term disability insurance. My are horrible.”
hourly rate is extremely fair, and I have : “The company should provide
the flexibility that I need because I benefits without punishing
want to have time with my family.” those who use them.”