Page 272 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

Employee Well-Being C259

: “The flextime, 401(k) match, and paid : “Overall, I like my job, and it
individual medical benefits keep fits into my current schedule.
me here. My pay is low compared The one thing I have trouble
with similar positions in my field, so with is getting time off. I feel
if any of these benefits disappeared, they could be more flexible. For
I would seek another job. But as long instance, I once had a doctor’s
as those three things remain, and the appointment that I had to
people in my department remain of schedule far in advance. I
the same caliber of professionalism, gave notice that I would be
I will stay. I am able to be a single unable to work that afternoon,
mother who supports her family with about a month and a half in
just one job and about 30% from my advance. I was given a form
parents, instead of more, thanks to e-mail response saying that it
the flextime that allows me to juggle couldn’t be guaranteed, and
doctor trips, parent-teacher meet- that it would depend on the call
ings, and family emergencies. The volume that day. I ended up
401(k) match allows me to provide a being scheduled that day
half-way decent retirement plan. I’m and had to talk to someone to
grateful for what the firm provides.” switch my schedule. It made a
: “This company cares; my wife stressful situation worse. With
became very ill and eventually passed situations like this it is hard to
away. They provided assurance, say that I really feel valued as
compassion, and support. They gave a person.”
me the greatest gift of all—time to
be with my wife during her illness.
This is highly unusual as I had been
with the company only months when
we discovered the illness. God bless
this company.”

: TWO VERY DIFFERENT MINDSETS EMERGE

As we review the difficult news about employee benefits and look at
the gaps between the haves and have-nots, several important themes
begin to emerge. They tell a story of companies that are taking very
different approaches to the well-being of their employees. It reminds
us of those conversations one hears about “different world views” on