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"Unlimited Sick Days" - Risky?
Ask Google
Google was rated as number one in Fortune magazine's 2008 'Best Companies to Work For' rankings.
What principles from their success can we apply to our own business?
Admittedly we need to put some realism into the following list of employee benefits, but just to get your tastebuds going, here's a few available to ALL Google employees regardless of rank:
- Free shuttle buses equipped with WiFi to pick up and drop off employees;
- Five onsite doctors, prividing free service;
- Unlimited sick days;
- Annual ski trip (all expenses paid);
- Free gourmet meals;
- Free snack stations;
- Free onsite washers and dryers;
- $500 voucher for takeout food after the birth of a child;
- $5000 subsidy to buy a hybrid car;
- $2000 bonus for referring a new hire;
- Free gym, lap pool, climbing wall and volleyball courts.
- In the words of the founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google is not a conventional company and has no intention of becoming one.
Coming closer to a more realistic world of employee benefits from the list of 100 "Best Companies to Work For", Parkin and Bourke in their book, "Captain-Coach Leadership" compiled a few that are outside the standard menu offerings:
- CEO blogs to solicit employee ideas;
- Time off to do community service;
- Onsite child care centres;
- Free language training and asistance with citizenship;
- Doggie daycare and an onsite farmers' market;
- 100 per cent health insurance cover;
- Onsite nursing staff;
- Free flights for employee medical emergencies;
- Adoption aid
"Some perks may sound strange but the important point is to think about benefits that not only enhance the employees' energy levels but also position your organisation as one that demonstrates care through actions.
That means putting in place programs nominated by the staff because they are given the opportunity to suggest ways of improving their work-life balance" according to Parkin & Bourke.
At a more local level, what can we do more of to aspire towards 'employers of choice'?
According to research from one of the most comprehensive 'Best Employer' surveys - conducted by Hewitt & Associates, the best employers are organisations where first and foremost the leadership...
"....identifies and acts on the basis that their people are the primary source of performance, competitive advantage and longer-term sustainability and focus" (Captain-Coach Leadership, P109)
David Parkin and Paul Bourke will be sharing these and many other gems, delivered in their typical passionate style that we all know - Bridgeworks Leadership breakfast - 1st July, Hilton on the Park. (details opposite).
Have a great week!
Wayne Dyson
You maybe a fellow baby-boomer!
Some of the artists of the 60's & 70's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers.
They include:
Bobby Darin ---
Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
Herman's Hermits ---
Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
The Bee Gees -- -
How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.
Roberta Flack---
The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
Johnny Nash ---
I Can't See Clearly Now.
The Commodores ---
Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
Procol Harem---
A Whiter Shade of Hair.
Leo Sayer ---
You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
Abba---
Denture Queen.
Helen Reddy ---
I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
Leslie Gore---
It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.
And Last but NOT least:
Willie Nelson ---
On the Commode Again
Have a great week and see you at the breakfast on Wednesday 1st July.
Wayne Dyson
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Leadership Breakfast
"Performance Strategies from Professional Sport"
With AFL Legend David Parkin & Veteran CEO Paul Bourke
Hilton on the Park, East Melbourne
Weds 1st July 2009 - 7.15am for 7.30am-8.55am
For the next few decades, companies committed to sustainable performance improvement and not currently rated as "employers of choice" by their employees would do well to heed the sports adage of making the people who do the work - the heroes.
David Parkin is an AFL football legend. He spent twenty-four years as Senior Coach, Victorian Football League/WAFL/AFL and nine years as Physical Education Adviser to Hawthorn Football. He is both a premiership player and coach in the VFL / AFL.
Paul Bourke has had extensive corporate experience including as former CEO of Campbells Soups and Melbourne Mushrooms. He has been involved in Leadership Development since 2001 and has co-authored 3 books with Parkin as well as being the author of "The New World of Work".
They will outline powerful strategies sport uses to ensure that athletes are given every possible chance to maximize their potential. All these woven into the current business environment to build sustainable performance.
Come along and hear some hands-on practical strategies, to better engage your people and lift productivity from 2 pros that really know what it means to 'walk the talk'.
$55pp or $395 for table of 8.
Bookings via Bridgeworks on
03-9585 7990
It will be a great morning - See you there!
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