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Subject:Re: FWD: a question about "atmospheric" benefits From:Damien Braniff <dbraniff -at- iss-dsp -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 07 Nov 2000 14:06:47 +0000
> Anon,
Just a couple of personal examples that may/may not be of use.
When I first started writing it was for a company that specialised in
documentation and they seemed to have a similar policy to your company. Took on
graduates at reasonably low pay, trained them well and then lost them. In my
first year there we had about a 75% turnaround in staff. Needless to say the
company is now out of business.
My last job was similar regarding the 'perks'. Very easy going company and there
was a company loyalty which doesn't often exist these days. Still, in spite of
that, people left. They generally took a lot longer to go but they still went.
My current job is also very similar, unofficial flexi, free lunches, big on
training (about 15% of budget!) etc - very similar to your own. However, one
thing they do which is different is that they have a yearly staff survey to see
how people feel - are people happy with how the company is run, good management
etc. What's even rarer is that they listen and act on the responses. In a
recent survey one of the things highlighted was salary which was perceived as
being lower than in comparable companies. What they did was to commission a
review of the industry to see how we matched up. As a result of this we've had
an interim pay rise with another review in April. They recognise that staff are
a major company asset and aim to keep them.
The benefits you describe are all well and good but they are the icing on the
cake and are no substitute for not handing out reasonable sized slices.
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