Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: An Unexpected Benefit
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, is part of AlphaMeasure's 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 prescreening 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 AlphaMeasure, 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 AlphaMeasure employee surveys.
Josh Greenberg is President of AlphaMeasure, Inc.
AlphaMeasure provides organizations of all sizes a powerful web based method for measuring employee satisfaction, determining employee engagement, and increasing employee retention.
Launch your employee surveys with AlphaMeasure.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:08:19 GMT India a step closer to nuclear trade - Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor - The Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed Saturday to lift a 34-year ban on selling nuclear technology to India, even though it hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. India secures controversial access to nuclear technology US Congress signals it will clear N-deal Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:01:15 GMT 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice - Variety
Variety - By NICK VIVARELLI Darren Aronofsky drama “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke as washed out pro wrestler Randy (the Ram) Robinson, in comeback mode both on and off the screen, pinned down the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion. Is Evan Rachel Wood dropkicking Marilyn Manson for Mickey Rourke? A Glance at 'The Wrestler' Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:55:44 GMT Spa Update: Hamilton Penalty Hands Win to Massa - AutoWeek
AutoWeek - By NIGEL ROEBUCK A drive-through penalty is the punishment for almost causing a collision in the pits. We know this because Bruno Senna was thus punished in the GP2 Series race at Spa-Francorchamps, and it cost him the race. Massa declared winner of Belgian GP Raikkonen's title hopes doused by Hamilton at Spa Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:46:22 GMT Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 - Washington Post
Washington Post - On the heels of the huge nationwide salmonella outbreak that caused more than 1400 illnesses from Mexican peppers, a regional Oregon alfalfa sprout distributor has recalled its product in Oregon and Washington state after the sprouts were linked to 13 ... Salmonellosis outbreak prompts sprout recall Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:31:13 GMT Side events bring out celebs in advance of VMAs - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LOS ANGELES (AP) - Though the MTV Video Music Awards are the main event in town this weekend, some celebrities are satisfied enough with the side activities connected to the extravaganza. Britney 'Getting an Opportunity to Start Over' at VMAs Brand and Spears have been promoting the awards on MTV Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:10:38 GMT Hurricane, at Category 4, Heads Toward Cuba - New York Times
New York Times - By MARIA NEWMAN Hurricane Ike grew into a bigger threat to Florida and the Gulf Coast Sunday as it roared through the Bahamas mid-morning, with forecasters expecting it to gain in strength as it approaches Cuba. Video: Raw Video: Ike Pounds Turks and Caicos Powerful Hurricane Ike looms as trouble for Gulf Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:52:07 GMT Michigan spared sting of West Nile - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - BY SHERI McWHIRTER • RECORD-EAGLE • September 7, 2008 TRAVERSE CITY -- West Nile virus hasn't seriously bitten Michigan this year and seems to have spared the state's northern reaches. Yes, the mosquitoes were nasty this summer Aerial survey being conducted to find mosquito breeding grounds Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:53:44 GMT RSS Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Most people think real change in an organization occurs as... Read More The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more important... Read More If you are completely happy with where you and your... Read More Why are people changing jobs so quickly these days?Here are... Read More Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More "Must Project Managers be technically savvy?" This topic always seems... Read More A few weeks ago I asked my readers what the... Read More Using Employee Opinions Effectively When Designing HR ProgramsEmployee opinion is... Read More Howard Dean's tenure as chairman of the Democratic National Committee... Read More Before you start your own business one of the first... Read More What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?Neuro-Linguistic programme is nothing but the study... Read More Does this sound familiar? You were hired for the new... Read More My friend Delia is the owner of a small private... Read More As a small business operator, personal checks may be one... Read More If I was a fly on the wall what would... Read More I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics... Read More One of the major benefits, if not THE benefit of... Read More As a recent employee to your job, you are becoming... Read More Lack of Operations Manuals stunting your growth?CONTENTS:1. Do you lack... Read More What principles should a company keep in mind when developing... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More There's a great little article ('Business Lifeforms') on... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More I once worked with a developer who showed up at... Read More Transitioning from Vertical Hierarchies to Decentralized / Flatter OrganizationsThe need... Read More
Adsense
websites
How to Help Your Company Become a World Class Company
Five Problem-Solving Success Tips
Why You Should Hold One More Meeting
Proven Secrets to Keeping Your People and Increasing Your Profits
Building Bridges of Communication
Must Project Managers Be Technically Savvy?
What One Thing?
Using Employee Opinions Effectively When Designing HR Programs
The Leaders Fallacy May Be Howard Deans Undoing
Your Blueprint For Business Success
How to use NLP for Business?
I Said Pareto Chart? Not Potato Chart!
Communication Mix-Up
What to do When You receive a Bad Check
Time Management Tip: Stop Micro-Managing Employees
The Fairness of Office Politics... Integrity and Political Motivation!
Enable Continuous Improvement of IT Services through ITIL
Management Coaching to Improve Relationships with Work Associates
Lack of Operations Manuals Stunting Your Growth?
Take This Into Consideration Before You Write Your Mission Statement
Innovation Management: The Hype Cycle
How to Get the Best from Outsourcing
Innovation Management: What Problem Is Being Solved?
Project Management - Its Just A Button
Improve Operations by Restructuring
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Pitching to Employees
The senior flight attendant on the WestJet flight was starting... Read More
Delegation: When to Delegate, Who to Delegate to
There are some very simple guides for delegation.Most people delegate... Read More
Creative People, Innovative People
The title implies that some people are and others not.This... Read More
The Walmart Cult
The CultBecoming a part of the Cult, consists of being... Read More
Help for the Meeting-Weary Manager
Most of us have found ourselves working on a team... Read More
The Dark Side of Help Desk SLAs
You just signed a Help Desk Service Level Agreement (SLA)... Read More
Take the Easy Route - Delegate
It was 2.30 am. It was cold and dark and... Read More
CEO: The Key To Fix ingThe Marketing/Sales Collaboration Problem
We all know that achieving better alignment, synergy and cooperation... Read More
The Crisis of Modernity
Since the beginning of the industrial era our world has... Read More
Learn to Assert Yourself
Pinpoint your own blocks to assertiveness: fear of disapproval, need... Read More
Experiences of Management Coaching (Part 2)
In our experience, we have found that there are several... Read More
Hiring and Retaining Good Employees
Hiring good employees is not only important to business, it's... Read More
Selecting A Collection Agency
If you run a business, you are sure to have... Read More
Communication: Managements Responsibility
I've just watched, again, an episode in the Back to... Read More
5 Ways of Increasing Business Profits
The economy may finally be turning around and showing signs... Read More
Catch Your Staff Doing Something Right
A long time ago, I learned something about being a... Read More
Morale Boosters: Feed the Troops First
When economic conditions turn tough or when the heavy work... Read More
Ten Top Ways for Managers to Motivate Their People
So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten... Read More
Resolve Differences
Resolving conflict doesn't come easily to too many people. Most... Read More
Turbo-Charge Your Rollout with ERM
Employees are the often-neglected stakeholders in the success or failure... Read More
Three Business Lessons From The US Postal Service
There was a buzz in the air recently about the... Read More
Innovation Management ? what are the practical impediments?
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Innovation Management ? changing the world!
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Employee Turnover: Is It Eating Up Your Profits?
Keeping the cost of doing business down, yet providing a... Read More
Employee Motivation: It?s More Than A Paycheck
Managers often ask, usually with exasperation, "How can I keep... Read More
Business Management |