Case
Studies
In the corporate
sector where human resource is becoming like oxygen to companies
it is important to take care of them in every way you can. This
section will treat you with articles about time tested companies
and what they do to keep their employees happy. May be you can
benchmark with them...?
Patagonia
Inc. makes working a pleasure
Sunny
California and an attitude that goes with it. Patagonians are
a breed apart and chose to remain that way, thanks to their
'sportive' work culture. The winner of the 2000 Workforce Optimas
Award for Quality of Life bears witness to this fact. A company
that manufactures the world's best outdoors clothing and equipment
has created a unique symbiotic employer-employee relationship.
The
quirky attitude is contagious and Patagonians are proud of their
dirtbag culture of 'alpinists and surfers'. Employees take on
a number of outdoor activities- mountain climbing, kayaking,
bungee jumping, biking and skiing. It is not unusual that during
work hours, employees can be seen surfing the waves at a beachside
two miles away (with deadlines already met.)
The
most important prerequisite for a candidate is a non-conformist's
attitude. The HR department is responsible for fostering this
attitude and it can be traced back Patagonia's strict hiring
process. This manifests itself in the 700 plus Patagonian workforce
worldwide and HR managers make sure they hire likeminded company.
The
other attractions are the Great Pacific Childcare centre that
houses 120 kids and allows parents to pay a nominal fee. This
allows children to be in taken care of in their parents workplace
environment, and reduces anxiety that parents face thus increasing
work productivity.
The
Work-At-Home option is granted to employees as part of their
weekly work schedule. A certain number of hours are required
to be spent at the office premises while the rest can be done
at home. The flexi time option gives the employees flexible
work schedules for starting and quitting times. Following a
compressed work week employees can get an extra day off, provided
they work extended hours during the rest of the week. The job-sharing
concept that allows one full time position to be shared by two
people, dividing the time equally between the two, is another
important feature of Patagonian work culture.
The
Internship program gives employees the opportunities to take
a two month paid leave to work for any non-profit organisation
of their choice. Internships, vacations and training programmes
create temporary vacancies that are filled up by other interested
employees.
The
work environment infuses creativity and Patagonians love to
be a part of an organisation that gives importance to balancing
work, and family and takes care of their 'play times' too.
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