Activity

I do think that certain comments in this group could be dangerous – I suggest that if someone has a story to tell that could get them in trouble that they ask a friend to post it for them or post it as though they heard it somewhere else. My intent is to illuminate both sides for the benefit of all.

On that note, I will share a few company policies that I really think are positive and beneficial to everyone in those companies. When I am in a position of company policy making, I intend to implement these.

1. Welcome lunch and goodbye lunches! When someone joins (or leaves) the firm, inviting anyone from the office who wants to go have lunch together costs a couple of hours and a few dollars. This investment goes a LONG way toward everyone getting to know each other better, having a moment to relax, and making the new person feel welcome = big dividends in team building, morale, and a good start for that new person. If someone is leaving the company of their own volition, it sends the message that they are respected and will be missed. I know from experience that this, too, can go a long way towards past employees having a good feeling about a company that will stay with them….believe me! I wouldn’t be writing it right now if I hadn’t encountered that practice only twice and I remembered it.

2. paid sick time off – if not taken at the end of the year, most companies revoke that time off benefit and the employee loses out on an earned benefit and often has to begin accrual from zero at the beginning of the year. Instead of losing the time off, I worked for a company that would give the employee about 75% of their hourly rate for that time that they worked instead of calling in sick. I know there have been times that I didn’t use every moment of sick leave by the end of the year and felt compelled to fake a sick day in order to not lose my hard-earned benefit. I would appreciate the cash instead and just keep working. Good for the company’s productivity and basic good will and respect on both sides.

3. Holiday bonuses – a deli sandwich and 1/2 a day off does not qualify. Sorry.