|
Dear
Holly,
The recently released SHRM/SHRM Foundation
2003 Benefits Survey (which can be found at www.shrm.org) had some
interesting news for small companies. Did you know that if you work in a
small company, you're more likely to have ice cream socials and holiday parties
and be able to bring your children (and pets) to work? (Sounds like fun, eh?)
But larger companies are more likely to offer a wider array of
non-traditional benefits such as paid maternity leave (20% in large companies
vs. 13% in small companies), paid military leave (49% vs. 20%), a smoking
cessation program (45% vs. 22%), a stress reduction program (33% vs. 15%),
or, an on- site fitness center (40% vs. 10%). Other interesting findings
include: on average, companies paid for 78% of health care coverage and
employees pay for 22%. If you are one of the 92% of companies for whom health
care costs have risen in the past year, you are probably considering passing
along some of the cost to employees. The survey indicated that 50% of its
respondents said their employees understand the organization's need to pass
on health care cost increases.
At the same time, it might be time to
consider assessing your whole benefits and compensation package to ensure
that you're getting enough "bang for the buck." First assess how
your benefits package compares to other organizations . . . and then
publicize the results to employees, especially if there are areas in which
you shine. Also, take a look at the demographics of your workforce. Does your
benefits package really work for your employees? You may want to ask them.
Words
of Wisdom
If you nurture your mind, body, and spirit,
your time will expand. You will gain a new perspective that will allow you to
accomplish much more.
-- Brian Koslow
|
|
Re-Energizing Your Workforce
|
|
|
|
It's summer - time
to "lighten up." Many of us are short staffed and stressed out.
Here are some good ideas I've heard recently to re-energize your workforce
from owners of growing businesses . . .
A colleague who owns a manufacturing firm
recently described his great idea for "managing by walking
around." Every Friday, he has an ice cream truck drive up to his
loading dock. He buys everyone in the company (about 50 people) an ice
cream bar. In the time it takes to eat the ice cream together, he has a
chance to chat with his employees, and they have a chance to chat with him.
Most people show up and look forward to it.
I recently read about one organization who
has its senior managers host a "Grill your Boss" cookout at which
they dress up as chefs and cook hamburgers and hot dogs for all employees.
How about monthly birthday lunches with
the CEO? At a local university, every employee who has a birthday that
month is invited to lunch by the President. They are treated to lunch and
birthday cake and the President has a chance to get to know his/her
employees on a more personal basis.
|
|
|
HMK Express
|
|
|
|
We have received
many calls in the past few months from clients who are attempting to do
more with less - continuing to grow their businesses with less human
resources support. In response to these requests, we are delighted to
announce a new service. Simply email an hr-related question to us, and we
will respond. The question can be on any hr-related topic - policies,
performance appraisals, salaries and benefits, employee relations issues,
etc.
Contact us at hmk@hmkassociates.com! With
more than ten years in the business of helping growing companies, there are
still lots of questions we haven't heard. . . . . but many we've helped
resolve. The price is just $50 for this service for current or former
clients and $75 for new subscribers. We will alert you when you contact us
if the question is more complex than we are able to answer under the terms
of this service. There is no commitment to a certain level of service,
although retainers are also available over a six-month period. We continue
to believe that human resources support is too critical to your business's
success to "do without" during tough times. We look forward to
working with you. Call us at (412) 362-7355 if you have questions on this
service.
For More Info About Us »
»
|
|
|
News at HMK Associates
|
|
|
|
We've been keeping
busy with consulting and presentations over the summer - "HR
Basics," "How to Manage without An HR Director," and
"HR Trends." Email us at ac@hmkassociates.com if you would like
handouts from these sessions. One handout - "Ten things you can do
right away to improve your work culture" has proved especially
popular.
|
|
|
PA Tech Comp Survey Says...
|
|
|
|
The recently
published 2003 Pennsylvania Technology Compensation Survey report includes
base pay, incentive compensation, new hire rates, formal pay ranges, and
other compensation information for more than 200 benchmark jobs common to a
variety of employers. The survey is focused on Pittsburgh and includes a
representative sample of employers from other areas of the state. Human
resource policy- practice topics in this year's report include an update on
healthcare benefit costs, an overview of pay increase budgets and
practices, and a review of Work/Life benefits and practices, including
tuition assistance. For more information, contact Charles Fetzer at (800)
363-6432 or email FetzSurvey@aol.com.
|
|
|
About Us
|
|
|
|
HMK Associates,
Inc. was founded in 1993 with the goal of helping business leaders
effectively and efficiently resolve their human resources issues. We are
committed to helping your company thrive by embracing the challenges of
growth and change.
If you would like more information, email
us at hmk@hmkassociates.com and please forward this newsletter to a friend.
For more information »
»
|
|
