Page 275 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

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We have fitness centers just for our Stars [their term for employ-
ees], and cafeterias that are second to none and on par with what
we offer guests. We serve our Stars healthy menu items, not leftovers
from banquets. We know we have to give something to employees
for them to want to give back to us. Over St. Patrick’s Day, we held
a day of classes to teach employees about personal finance, how and
when, and whether to refinance their houses, how to manage their
401(k) investments, and many other topics. Because of the de-
clining economy, some employees were pulling money out of their
401(k)s out of sheer panic, so we decided to educate them about
alternatives that wouldn’t deplete their savings. We have family
movie nights where employees can bring their significant others
and kids and get to know other families. We have health and well-
ness fairs. We also provide mobile mechanic service at a discount
where employees can have their cars serviced right in our own auto
garage. If they need more serious repair work, we provide a shuttle
to take them back and forth to their dealership or mechanic.

Gallineau continued with this touching, powerful story:

We have a group of leaders that cared enough about an employee
who was about to lose his house through foreclosure that they
stepped in and helped him save it. They chipped in and made his
house payment. The employee’s father in Haiti had died around
that same time, and the employee didn’t have enough money to go
to the funeral, so they stepped in and paid for that, too. They took it
upon themselves to do something about it. We have had other em-
ployees this year who almost lost their houses, and their coworkers
pitched in to keep it from happening—not just managers, but
line-level Stars as well. They weren’t looking for recognition, just
the satisfaction of helping a fellow human being. I think it also
says something about our culture that employees can feel comfort-
able enough here to make themselves vulnerable, to open up with
their coworkers and trust them enough tell them what’s going on
in their lives, knowing they will be compassionate.