DO |
|---|
| Consider what will be important to your employees (and their families) by industry. Badger Mining Corporation, the ranking's top small company, stresses safety. Badger instituted a free wellness program and offers incentives to employees who participate. |
| Institute regular events that build trust and dedication. Staff meetings to fill people in on company plans and financials are important. |
| Make a fuss over each new employee. Institute a formal training or orientation program (it doesn't have to last more than a few days), and introduce new employees to everyone in the company. |
| Follow up. After the orientation program, check in and get a sense of how new employees are doing in their jobs and what they would change if they could. |
| Consider participating in the Great Places to Work Institute's survey. It provides a way to find out what's working and what's not from your employees' point of view, and to see how you stack up against other companies. |
| Create a mission statement and a set of core values. Having a clear and tangible mission is the cornerstone of a great company. |
DON'T |
| Think it's all about the benefits. Though they are important, benefits can't replace constant communication and treating employees well. |
| Think employees don't care about meeting the CEO. They do, and they appreciate getting to know top management and learning about the company. |
| Forget the small stuff. Make sure to learn to pronounce employees' names correctly, celebrate small victories, and include employees in the decision-making process. |
| Let up. It takes a lot of work to stay great, even once you've achieved greatness. “Don't do it in order to pat yourself on the back. Look at the feedback, then act on what you learn,” says John Horky, one of the principals of Kahler Slater, a Milwaukee-based design firm that has made the ranking three years in a row. |
How to Keep Your Employees Happy
Here are some do's and don'ts from the companies that ranked highest on the Great Places to Work Institute's 2006 ranking
The companies that placed highest in the Great Places to Work Institute's third annual ranking, titled “The Best Small and Medium Companies to Work for in America,” report a number of benefits to creating a great place to work. These include low turnover, great customer service, a bolstered bottom line, as well as loads of great candidates applying for job openings.
BusinessWeek.com talked to four of the winning companies to find out how they keep their employees happy. Here are their tips on how to create and maintain a great environment in your workplace: