Page 73 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

60B RE-ENGAGE Today . . .

: Health-care benefits are extremely
Ten Years Ago . . .
Employee benefits are important, par-
important because they are eating up
ticularly when I change jobs or when I
have a significant claim related to myself
more and more of my take-home pay. I’m
also very concerned about my retirement,
or a member of my family. I also want a
fair contribution to my retirement from
tank. I also have an interest in maintaining
my employer. particularly when the stock market is in the
some semblance of work-life balance, and I
expect my employer to honor that.

In Chapter 9 we will examine the transformation that is going on
in the world of work related to employee benefits and whole-person
and lifestyle needs. We know that health and retirement benefits have
always been important, but their priority has clearly risen in the minds
of most employees. Survey comments in particular reflect an increase
of employee interest in work-life balance, something not spoken of
with the same level of frequency just a few years ago.
We know that some employee engagement drivers are timeless and
will not likely go out of style. For example, keeping employees aligned
with company goals, making sure they are in the loop, and inspiring
their trust are enduring conditions that have been emphasized as es-
sential leadership competencies for decades. It doesn’t shock us that
the quality of leadership was an important driver of employee engage-
ment five years ago, was still important five years later, and will likely
be important five—or fifty—years from now.

: MAKING UNIVERSAL DRIVERS INTO “SIGNATURE” DRIVERS

Although winning companies consistently score high on all six driv-
ers, there are marked differences in how each company goes about
achieving those levels of excellence or where it places the emphasis.
We use the term “signature” to describe the two or three of the six
drivers that combine to reflect each employer’s culture, lend it a dis-
tinguishing style, and serve to support its business objectives. This
is an extremely important concept for those who aspire to become
employers of choice like those featured in this book.