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Constructing A Great Place To Work - Part 2
July 11, 2007

Companies like Holder Construction Co. and Hoar Construction are all currently being celebrated for their ‘Great Place to Work’ achievements. But what’s their secret? How do they do it? How do they build an employee base so loyal, productive and happy that these people just don’t want to work anywhere else?

Well, they don’t all do the same things or approach running their companies in the same way. But there is a consistency to the way they view their most important asset – the talent that makes up the company. While none of the priorities these companies have established should surprise anyone, they are worth mentioning because it is the collective force of all these benefits combined and not just singular initiatives that puts them front and center in the war for talent.

- An authentic commitment to developing people and “growing their own” : Holder  Construction for example does this through peer networks and mentoring as much as through formal training and development programs.
- Recognition and Reward : creating a culture where people feel valued, know their contributions and are routinely recognized for a job well done. McWhinney Real Estate have quarterly awards to recognize contributions that reinforce the core values of the company.
- Trust and Respect : To these companies, management and leadership is of the utmost importance – words and deeds are in sync, the audio and the video match. These leaders understand the importance of integrity in gaining the trust of their people.
- Fun and Pride : They go hand in hand – if employees can understand their contribution to a bigger picture and why their work matters, they will feel a greater sense of pride and enjoy it a whole lot more.
- Tailored benefits : Packages that are flexible, geared towards individual lifestyles and respectful of lifestyle and generational differences. This is key to attracting and retaining today’s multi-generational workforce.

Of course, there are probably a lot more things that the Great Places To Work do to attract and retain equally great talent, but take a look at the list and see how you stack up as an employer and see what you could start doing tomorrow that will put you on the path to greatness.

Posted by Alan Ibbotson on July 11, 2007 | Comments (0)