For companies and employees alike, a good match is essential. Companies that provide a positive atmosphere and fulfilling work are more likely to attract top talent, be productive, and retain those highly skilled individuals. Likewise, employees want to be valued and they definitely don’t want to be bored. By consciously picking a job and company that matches both their goals and personality, employees will gain more skills, advance their career, and be more likely to directly impact their companies’ successes.
As a recent article in ComputerWorld on the “100 Best Places to Work in IT” shows, there is no single way for a company to be attractive—which makes sense given that not all IT professionals fit a single mold. For example, Sun Microsystems has helped reduce environmental impact and improved work-life balance with an “open work” program. More than half of Sun’s employees don’t have an assigned office in a fixed location because the tools and technologies allow them to work wherever they want. Meanwhile, General Mills Inc. creates a positive IT environment with an “Excellence in Technology” award that encourages recognition of day-to-day activities. Verizon Wireless offers on-site master’s degree and undergraduate certificate programs in information systems and technology management.
This growing trend of company perks and benefits is rapidly becoming more and more prominent in today’s workplace. As the corporate pendulum gradually swings toward the idea of “happy employees make better employees,” organizations are realizing that treating employees well can drive company success. Such measures are also key to reducing employee attrition, which is costly regardless of industry.
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From "View from the TreeTop" Volume 2 Issue 8 August 2008
Reprinted with permission © 2008 TreeTop Technologies