This article relates to the Compensation and Benefits competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. It tells the story of a company that offered a new benefit to its employees, solved the problem of lagging productivity, and boosted morale at the same time. The Compensation and Benefits competency focuses in detail on how your employees feel regarding their compensation and benefits packages. The questions included in this competency will help your organization determine whether your employees feel they are fairly paid for the work they perform when compared to a similar job at a different company. This competency also queries their feelings regarding the adequacy and quality of their benefits package. A fair and attractive compensation package is critical for hiring and retaining quality employees. A high satisfaction level in this competency requires that your compensation structure and benefits package be fair, balanced, and understood by your present employees.
This short story, An Unexpected Benefit, was part of EngagedMetrics' compilation, Tales From the Corporate Frontlines. It illustrates how companies can use benefit programs to solve problems and create better work life situations for employees.
Anonymous Submission
An Unexpected Benefit
Whenever my company or coworkers engaged in a discussion about compensation and benefits, the talk generally turned to pay rates for specific jobs, raises, or the complexity of various health care plans. Compensation and benefits issues were raised around open enrollment or salary and performance review periods, and pretty much ignored during the rest of the year.
Last year, I was asked to be part of a focus group on benefits. There was a particular benefit that the company was considering adding to our package, and feedback from the rank and file was requested. The benefit was described as "Employee Back-up Care". I had not heard of it, and neither had most of my coworkers.
At the meeting, the moderator described the benefit. It turned out to be a service- offered by an agency that contracts with the company - that provides caregivers for the children or elderly dependents of employees in the event that the regular care provider was unavailable. The care is delivered in- home, by workers thoroughly screened by the agency and provided on an as-needed basis.
Our company was considering offering this benefit because of the large numbers of working parent families and employees now responsible for the care of elderly relatives. It seemed to be a win-win situation: employees received peace of mind and quality care for their dependence, and the company avoided the lost workdays and low productivity resulting from employees worrying about their charges left at home or the unavoidable distraction that occurs when they are brought a long to work.
Needless to say, we were interested. Living in a part of the country where winter weather can make school attendance sporadic at best for a few months of the year, another option sounded wonderful. But exactly how does this miracle plan work?
Basically, it is simple. The company selects an agency to partner with in providing the service. The agency is responsible for pre-screening and preparing a database of qualified caregivers. The employee is free to call upon the agency for help whenever needed. Usual situations included mild illness, post hospital elder care, schools closed due to holidays or bad weather, business travel, or the temporary unavailability of a regular caregiver. The employer, according to an agreement made with the agency, usually covers costs. Some employers cover the service completely; some share the cost with the employee. Each employee is allotted a specific number of days of service for the year, or a specific dollar allowance.
A few months later, our company instituted this benefit. Though it was unexpected, it is most welcome and appreciated. I would encourage other companies to look into back up care as an addition to their compensation and benefits packages.
© 2005 EngagedMetrics, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
This article may be reprinted, provided it is published in its entirety, includes the author bio information, and all links remain active.
Measure. Report. Improve your organization with EngagedMetrics Employee Survey System.
Josh Greenberg is President of EngagedMetrics, Inc.
EngagedMetrics provides organizations of all sizes a powerful web based method for measuring employee satisfaction, determining employee engagement, and increasing employee retention.
Launch your EngagedMetrics Employee Survey System with EngagedMetrics.
I'm too busy; I'd love to but I'm very busy;... Read More
Rejection hurts. No one likes to give it or to... Read More
How do you convert outsourcing leads into clients? You may... Read More
Individual and corporate security stand in the center of the... Read More
The annual performance review.Stating this phrase guarantees some reaction for... Read More
Every business is run by someone who took on a... Read More
You just signed a Help Desk Service Level Agreement (SLA)... Read More
If you have company delivery vehicles at your small or... Read More
There are many reasons why good employees quit and go... Read More
Interest in the field of human resources has exploded in... Read More
Most people treat meetings as a free resource that can... Read More
Wouldn't it be nice for business owners and executives to... Read More
A successful leader told me, "The biggest challenge I've had... Read More
In the last few years a lot has been written... Read More
I have been working with leading Business Improvement guru, Tim... Read More
Do you own or manage a computer consulting company? Are... Read More
A framework is a way of thinking, a point-of-view, a... Read More
This article relates to the organizational structure competency, commonly evaluated... Read More
When asked his secret to success, the author Graham Green... Read More
Ever feel that all the lawyers in thh Country need... Read More
The Fundamentals of Strategic Marketing, Some Key Traits for Greater... Read More
There is an inherent conflict between owners and managers of... Read More
Everyone wants to succeed in life. And no one starts... Read More
A paper manufacturer with over 300 employees once announced that... Read More
In his book, The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker pointed out... Read More
"Ha!" you say. "For someone to make a statement like... Read More
(prez.un.TEE.iz.um) nPresenteeism, a relatively unknown concept, is the complement of... Read More
Firstly you should decide your own reasoning behind considering ISO... Read More
The higher you go, the cooler it becomes. Really? Let... Read More
There is a pervasive assumption that small firms are more... Read More
For many companies, procuring the right packaging, such as Poly... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
People in leading positions are often in a dilemma: on... Read More
How do you as a manager, supervisor or team leader... Read More
You're at a networking function and you've made that all-important... Read More
American CEOs are dropping like flies. Boards, armed with new... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Measure.The first key question to answer in starting a problem-solving... Read More
IntroductionThe role of the Human Resource Manager is evolving with... Read More
Want to hear a fascinating story? Let's sit in at... Read More
Q: One of my former employees has launched an online... Read More
Test your assumptions about everything.Assumptions have a way of creeping... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
It's clear to me that a workplace is a better... Read More
Many managers believe that treating their team members as responsible... Read More
'I heard it on the grapevine' the old song goes.... Read More
The end of the television season in May included the... Read More
The Leader's Fallacy lives! We subscribe to the Fallacy when... Read More
You've all heard the old joke about a consultant being... Read More
If you are an executive, you may sometimes feel like... Read More
Whether you are training preschoolers in the classroom or executives... Read More
When the stock market crashed in 1929, there were a... Read More
Everyone wants to succeed yet everyone has a different perception... Read More
There's a programme currently running on BBC Television in the... Read More
It is a sad fact that many employees are still... Read More
We draw conclusions about people through observation, their behavior, past... Read More
We have only one life, but we live in three... Read More
It has been said, there is no better way to... Read More
Tips for Getting the Most From Your Conference Investment All... Read More
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo EmersonI'm... Read More
The point of a quality improvement program should not only... Read More
Acknowledgement is about recognition or attention from another person. It... Read More
Results of Poor Cross Cultural Awareness. Having a poor understanding... Read More
You may remember being told as a child, "Keep quiet!"... Read More
Goals are critically important for the success of a meeting.... Read More
Last month I talked about the Skilled Facilitator principle of... Read More
Business Management |