Meet the new boss
Fortune Small Business profiled 7 companies that are finding novel ways to inspire their workers and boost the bottom line. What works at your company? Tell us about it.
From Laura Victoria, Long Beach, CA At Laserfiche, a software company in Long Beach, CA, we offer free lunch every day to all of our employees, a game room with pool tables, ping pong and foosball, free medical/dental care and a vision program. We have an incredibly generous 401K plan with a 100% match up to 15% of income. We have free yoga classes twice a week in the office and plenty of extracurricular activities sponsored by the company such as sailing, softball, tennis and a running team. We have a collaborative and creative work environment and a dynamic team!
From peter, novato ca Jeez – I am not alone – my company likes to say, "if your not at your minimums your out" "if you can't meet your goals, we will find someone who can" — sales sales – the only coaching we get is to do it the 'wrong way' – of which no one really benefits other then middle managment. It isn't making the org more money. District managements idea of motivation is threatening our security, belittling everyone, and micromanagement.
From Michael, Aberdeen NJ My company shows it's gratitude by cutting their 401K contribution to zero, trying to steal your accounts and aggressively cutting your salary at the first sign of trouble, after you returned to work to rebuild the company, after coming within moment of losing your life on 9/11. Now thats gratitude for you.
From Art Homestead, Florida Wow! Such negativity. I work in the same type job that I did in the Navy…nuclear power plant. I am very grateful to not be on submarines… I have real air, vice manufactured air, to breath. I see the sky, the rain, essentially, I see weather. I get to go home each night. I don't get awakened by the sound of "Emergency Deep!" anymore, nor the buzz and clunk of dummy torpoedos against the hull. It is nice to be awakened by thunder. I don't have to worry everytime I hear water running about what the depth guages are reading, nor do I have to worry about who is navigating the house around underwater mountains.
My employer? Well, I get paid much more than $2.79 / hour right now, and can afford a house that doesn't look like public low income housing.
I get what I work for…. a salary. My incentives are… improved self-esteem and the admiration of my peers and co-workers.
I get to go home and drink Mai Tai's every night. I get to see my wife every night.
I am not financially motivated. Please, please, can I work for free?
From Melvin, Guadalupe, AZ Wow…we get lunch on the company 2X/wk. Maybe that's why the pay is at minimum wage. Oh, what perks!
From Beth Hosmer My boss recently told us at lunch "Don't let the door hit you in the a__ when you leave. If you think the grass is greener – go to it!"
Congrats to these companies that understand stress and compensate their employees in a fun environment.
From Bob Olson, Grand Rapids,MN Fat Tire is my favorite beer. Keep up the great work New Belguim. I love all of your beers.
I wish the company I work for, treated us one half as well as your employees are treated by you.
From SadMan I'm from Singapore. Work for entire year, ended up with no bonus during year end. Is like wasted the entire year. Sad…..
From Anonymous more work, swift kick in the ass and a if you dont like it you can leave!
From Anonymous they reduce our lunch hour, but not our actual work time.
From Melanie Holmes, Milwaukee, WI At Manpower's headquarters in Milwaukee, our CEO installed ping-pong tables on every floor and added air hockey and foosball on the 1st floor. All great stress-relievers.
From Anonymous They pay me every two weeks. Greatest motivator in the world.
From Bud Gillette,WY 1. Do even think of showing up late or leaveing early for any reason.(availability policy), Do as your told and God forbid you get hurt doing it! Any of the above will get you fired. As far as work related input: "If it was a good idea someone else would have alread thought of it".
From Anonymos I work for a small (100 people) private owned tech services company. Last year our group cleared US$7M for the boss and the other groups also made profits. Bonuses were canceled. Our 6% 401k match has been resended, work hours have been cut by 30 to 50% depending in who's good graces you fall under. Don't even think about a raise. The boss fired the BD team and has initiated a marketing strategy that soley rests on internet communication. (This is not condusive to our business.) Travel to clients is on our time, the directors override project manager's decisions, and they have the attitude that we are lucky to have a job. Well the tide will turn and things will get better. When they do the exodus from here will invoke a black hole that the Earth may be in jeopardy.
From Dan Kerns, Middleburgh Heights Ohio I am in the mortgage business. When other lenders are closing down, I work with a company that is growing stronger and stronger every day. Our company has a sales meeting every Monday and provides lunch for us. We are also able to take advantage of a free city rec pass. The rec is a very nice place to work out and the swimming facility is a nice place to take the family. With an aggressive commission pay structure and unlimited people to talk, due to our awesome marketing department, this is a great place to work.
From heywood NY,NY I work for a major east coast electronics distributor. The environment is toxic and employees can't wait to leave. Everyone hates management too. Co may not be long for this world. Just waiting for the job market to improve. I can't wait to get out.
From Anonymous We still have the Christmas party and BBQ, but it's not for everybody. You must be "somebody". Haven't seen a raise in 2 years and my bonus is "subjective"
The environment is "toxic"
Afraid to use my name or location, although the boss only surfs "adult" sites.
From Mike, Jacksonville,fl Deercreek Country Club used to be cool free meals, free beer. The place stinks now. Everyone hates each other. Now you pay for your meals, no free beer. The management are all lazy they just sit around smoking all day, they are like on a permanent break, and talking behind the backs of all the employees. They hired a some lazy female bartenders who refuse to lift anything and just stand around trying to look pretty. I even got fired for not hanging around all night babysiting one of them because mangement thought she was too young to be there by herself. She's afraid of a ghost.
From roger taipei taiwan i am owner of small trading company
with 3 staff,since 2000,my all staff
are with me since i started my co,
all are well paid,10% from nett profits are paid and 5%salary increase
every year,since last year i started loosing,as everyone was drawing over
usd3000p.m.i told them nowonwards i wl give them 15%profits,no salary increase,and reduce salary by 35%,but
my staff refused,then i told them,they had to go,as i am in no position to do more,as we are small company.and now loosing,so i offerd them 3months salary as bonus,but according to labour law i had to pay 1 year salary,which i refused because i used to pay them big veyr good salary yearly, increase.and profit sharing,they left without taking bonus,and contacted labour dept and i got lawyers notice,so i decided as i had only option since anyway i started loosing since last year,to show bankruptcy,now they wont get penny.i am relaxed,and goin g to start another business.
From bango the wonder donkey my company pays us every other week. and once a month if we want, there's beer provided.
From Anthony Jackson Virginia Beach VA I work for Wal- Mart we have a what is called employee engagement. we have some kind of function like free lunch or salad bar for associates at least every other week. We have great fund raising programs. Wal-Mart store 3216 is a wonderful place to work.
From milton houston texas My company motivates much like Initech in the movie Office Space. The only real incentive for doing good work it to not get negative feedback.
From Brian, London, ON I used to work for a large breakfast cereal maker with regressive managmment tactics. The work environment was poisen with common quotes such as "you must be twins because you are too stupid to be one person" coming from the boss. I left that terrible place and am now working for a wonderfull NC based snack food maker who treats employees right and allows me to truly make a difference.
From Alexis Irvin, Spokane Valley, WA I'll be the one that steps out and says "hurrah" about the company I work for…. MetLife Home Loans, a division of MetLife bank has been remarkable. I am a Relationship Manager, and our company consistently offers educational opportunities, as well as a very competitive retirement plan and benefits… While I work for straight commission and to borrow a Roger Penske expression, "Effort equals results." I am hustling, and I worry about creating enough loans to stay afloat, but I feel very good about working for a company with such good goals and focus… OH, and did I mention, we didn't need Tarp funds, and we got flying colors on our bank stress test… Phew…
From Anonymous Everything Bob in Dallas wrote is correct. We are told that we should be lucky to have a job and not in a polite manner. It's as if the corporation is doing us a huge favor. Any type of feedback, whether it is in a meeting or survey, is always manipulated to the benefit and ideology of those in charge. It's no wonder most of these corporations are ruining this country. I only hope this bank goes under and those clowns in charge have trouble finding jobs at McDonald's.
From ABC, Greenville SC We have a nice weekly meeting where we're told that the reason things are so bad, is that we are all doing everything wrong.
The proposed solution is to do everything we've been doing, TWICE AS HARD!
Then we're given a cheerful wave and a "got get 'em!" sendoff back to our desks.
From Brezo, Milford, CT Wow! It doesn't take much to please employees! As salaried employees where I work, we have to clock in and out of the office even at lunch. We get docked for pay when we're not in the office for dentist appts or sick children. Our managers swear at us when they're mad and are paranoid when we even say hello to senior management. Worse, the CEO throws pens at people and calls people names when he's not happy with their performance. Doesn't get much worse than this. I'd love to have a free bike or bring my children to work for a day without guilt. It's the little things in life that make us motivated! It's a simple message!
From Bob Dallas Tx We have had cuts in vacations, bonuses and benefits. We are not permitted any feedback and most decisions are made on favoritism.. Managers say if you can find something better leave
From Naomi, Charlotte, NC How about a generous pension and a matching 401k and all imaginable best insurance at no cost. Several thousand of dollars for year end bonus for everyone. Breakfast every morning with fresh fruits included, catered lunch quite often. Full scholarship for the employee or children. All travel expenses covered for employee emergencies, including overseas including "spending cash". The list just keeps going. No wonder this company keeps their workers!! Company has less than 200 employees.
From Ed Becker, Jr., President, E. A. Becker & Associates, Inc., Saginaw, MI. As the majority owner of an independent insurance agency specialized in employee benefit programs some of my competitors think I am crazy with the wages and fringe benefits that I provide our employees. Our employees receive excellent salaries, full medical, life, disability, dental and vision benefits, all company paid. They also receive a 10% to 15% of pay company funded retirement plan contribution each year, a company car, and they share in around 30% of our corporate net profits each year, get 4 weeks paid vacation (on average) as well as 7 paid sick days each year. We are also very flexible with employee time off for family responsibilities, and allow a half-day pay for work at home when children are off school due to illness. Being generous to employees has allowed me to take more time off, and work many less hours than I used to, without jeopardizing the quality of services provided to our client base. Our employees treat the business like it is there own, and I continuously get compliments on how well our staff takes care of our clients. Crazy or not, this is how I choose to run the business, giving up a lot of income I could have pocketed (less of course all the damn additional income taxes I would have had to pay anyway). I am a firm believer in generously rewarding those who carry out the majority of the work processes that keep a business running successfully.
From Carol, Myrtle Beach, SC One of my employees brought her grandson to work. He "worked" with us from his age of 6 weeks until 8 months. My puppy also came to work and was raised with the grandson…so to speak. It was a lovely environment.
When the grandson reached the age of crawling and walking, the grandmother decided that she wanted to work from home. Fortunately, the type of work she does is perfect for a home office. She and I are very happy about our flexibility and the fact that we could accomodate/blend our professional and home lives.
From Carl Sylvester, Sandwich Illinois I wonder if Jim Owens(Pres. & CEO of Caterpillar) would be interested in this article…I just got laid off after 3.5 yrs. of service and have my own opinions on the way management has handled this "economic trough" as they are calling it. Companies that offer low impact perks to it's workforce are more apt to see WILLING engagement vs. forced, and thus, bottom line profitability and total quality(along with velocity) will increase. It's not always a dollar per hour issue as corporations will tell mainstream media, but things like on/off-site childcare for single parents, Holiday parties, attendance accrued time-off, gift certificates for Thanksgiving or Christmas turkeys; things of that nature…but I digress…
From Thomas Nisbet, Greensboro NC sell or be fired or
if we could train a monkey to do your job we would
From Anonymous In these tough times, our company has provided a Christmas bonus this past year, a annual bonus that we receive in May each year and continues to place a generous amount into our retirement fund each year as well.
We have had several company wide dinners and just has a wonderful Corporation wide Picnic for the all employees and their families.
It is amazing that business around the country are sturggling to maintain and our Corporation still continues to give back to it's employees. I feel blessed to be a part of this organization.
From Dale Little, Washington, D.C. Low cost incentives carry a huge impact. Potential incentives include a longer lunch hour several times a month, relocation of workstations to areas that improve productivity, mobile workstations, potluck lunches with emphasis on all things non-work related, or a “quiet area” for refocusing after a meeting, "cold call" session, or other daily work event.
From Rebekah K., Los Angeles, CA On Friday afternoons we give the office a "club" feel…our VP of Ops has some serious DJ Skills so we blast music through the intercom system and he provides halarious commentary between tracks.
We're a music tech company (www.Audiolife.com) so it fits. Keeping it fun and fresh at least once a week seems to be working!
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Daily breaks to ski (and mountain bike, go to the gym or surf at this location.)
http://www.surefoot.com