Page 296 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

Employee Well-Being C283

___ Frequently monitor the wellness needs of all employees through sur-
veys, focus groups, or standing benefits committees.
___ Select the benefits and services that meet the needs of employees, espe-
cially the organization most needs to be successful to achieve its strate-
gic objectives.
___ Target areas of greatest need, and provide benefits and services that meet these
needs in ways that exceed those provided by other competing employers.
___ Before implementing new benefits, practices, and services, take time
to meet with a cross-section of employees to identify potential pitfalls
in the practical administration and equitable application of the benefits
and discuss how they can be avoided.
___ As much as possible, provide a cafeteria of benefits and services that al-
low the differing needs of employees to be met.
___ Build appreciation for the cost and value of all benefits provided by pe-
riodically communicating their value to all employees.
___ Accelerate and upgrade efforts to educate employees in preventative
health practices, and reward those who follow these practices.
___ Implement both formal and informal recognition practices that dem-
onstrate that caring for the health and wellness of employees is highly
valued in the organization.
___ Guard against cultural norms that create disincentives for healthy behavior,
such as excessive work hours and discouragement of taking vacation time.
___ Introduce and sustain financial wellness education initiatives.
___ Plan and sponsor a variety of social, recreational, celebratory, and fun
activities that help to build a healthy sense of community, cohesion, and
esprit de corps.
___ Promote a “give-and-get-back” mindset among leaders and managers
that views the enhancement of employee well-being as a vital piece of
corporate strategy rather than as benefit costs to be cut.

: FINAL THOUGHTS

One of our favorite management books is The March of Folly, written
by Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Barbara Tuchman. Through four