Page 344 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

Becoming a More Engaged Workplace C331

show that some change originates with external factors, and some
may be traced to internal problems:

: “I do not feel the company is 100 percent stable like I did three
years ago.”
: “I feel that in the last few years we are slipping downward and
management finally sees that there are problems. They now are in
a panic to try and overcome these problems that have been here for
years. There has been a lack of communication for years, and I had
hoped it would improve.”
: “This company has gone so far downhill, even since the last time
we did another survey like this last year. This company has set its
goals so high for the sales staff that it is making people dishonest
and cheaters. They have blinded management into thinking that
they are wonderful employees when in reality they do things half-
fast and wrong. They sneak credit life and disability into loans,
are cutthroat about getting their loan goals.”
: “If I knew then what I know now, I would have not taken this
position. Many things were misrepresented to entice me to take the
position.”
: “A few years ago I would have had nothing but positive things
to say about the company. I loved the company and was proud to
be part of it. I realize that change cannot always be helped, and
I understand why the business has changed. But the company has
stopped investing in employees. They no longer provide classes for
building our strengths. And the raises keep getting smaller.”
: “I was drawn to this company by the high value they placed on the
family. I feel this has slipped over the years. Compensation and
benefits affect my family in a big way.”

Voices of Pride
We also came across comments, though not as many, testifying to the
fact that change may also be for the better, as some employers strive to
become better places to work or to maintain that enviable status: