HRM textbook

618 PART 5 EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
At Ward Furniture, workers can
share job responsibilities and
work part-time from home.
Source: Bill Aron/PhotoEdit.
offering more flexibility. They ve discovered how to turn tiny into tight-knit, earning
employees trust by keeping them in the loop on company news and financials, and
their loyalty by providing frequent feedback on performance. 39 At ID Media, with
90 employees, CEO Lynn Fantom gives all new employees a welcome breakfast on their
first day. Internet startup appssavvy Inc.s CEO foregoes PowerPoint presentations
in favor of humorous YouTube videos. 40
A CULTURE OF FLEXIBILITY Basically, the study found that small business
owners, by personally interacting with all employees each day, did a better job of
understanding when work/life issues emerge. 41 Wards Furniture in Long Beach,
California, exemplifies this. Many of its 17 employees have been with the firm for
10 to 20 years. Brad Ward, an owner, attributes this partly to his firm s willingness
to adapt to its workers needs. For example, workers can share job responsibilities, and
work part-time from home.
WORK LIFE BENEFITS Here are some examples: 42
* Extra time off. For example, Friday afternoons off in the summer.
* Compressed workweeks. For example, compressed summer workweeks.
* Bonuses at critical times. Small business owners are more likely to know what s
happening with their employees. Use this knowledge to provide special bonuses,
for instance, if an employee has a new baby.
* Flexibility. For example if an employee is having a personal problem, help him
or her create a work schedule that allows the person to solve problems without
feeling like they re going to be in trouble. 43
* Sensitivity to employees strengths and weaknesses. The small business owner
should be attuned to his or her employees strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations.
For example, ask them which jobs they feel most comfortable doing, and give
them an opportunity to train for and move into the jobs they desire.
* Help them better themselves. For example, pay employees to take a class to help
them develop their job skills.
* Feed them. Provide free meals every now and then, perhaps by taking your
employees to lunch.
* Make them feel like owners. For example, endeavor to give your employees input
into major decisions, let them work directly with clients, get them client feedback,
share company performance data with them, and let them share in the company s
financial success.