Employee Morale at your work?

[cherpintow]

I'm doing a project on some of the unique practices companies engage in to improve employee morale in the workplace. This could be a wide range of things, but I'm looking for more of the creative approaches companies use (specifically in Calgary) to do this. I'm thinking I'll maybe get 1 serious response out of 10 but even that will help. Also, if you can say what company you work for so I can do some research. Thanks.

[Kona9]

Catered Breakfasts on Fridays

Once a month a "specific" or "theme" party is thrown either in house, or at an establishment.

Annual paid golf tournaments

Recognized birthdays.

Easy going atmosphere at ALL times.

I work at a small engineering firm related to the oil and gas industry.

I would leave the name, but I'm not sure I would have impressed co-workers if you "did some research"

Good luck in your project.

[Doctor]

Relaxed atmosphere
Flexibility with time off
Good pay
Weekly Pay (To me it's a nightmare on personal finances
Free coffee
Lunch once a week

I also implemented a bi-weekly 'forum' where everyone can throw out ideas and address concerns.. much like a safety meeting.

[89coupe]

Casual dress
Flex days
Flexible hours
Bonuses
Stock Option plans
Yearly raises

I think those are the main ones everybody wants these days.

[Gravy_83]

um at my work everytime we get rated against other companies they have food for us and the supervisors go around and bring us food to our stations, no matter how we do they usually give us gift certificates for wherever we want in the city. Also give out prizes and stuff once in a while. other than that the morale is pretty low unless its about the time we get rated against other companies but we get rated quite often a few times a year in canada and a few times a year in the states and a few times overall

[Isaiah]

When I was working for Rogers in Toronto, they had casual fridays, staff incentives, quarterly bonuses, and recreational days where you could bring friends and family to company sponsored events. It definitely increased employee morale and helped create a positive work environment and team building.

[l8braker]

Originally posted by cherpintow
I'm doing a project on some of the unique practices companies engage in to improve employee morale in the workplace. This could be a wide range of things, but I'm looking for more of the creative approaches companies use (specifically in Calgary) to do this. I'm thinking I'll maybe get 1 serious response out of 10 but even that will help. Also, if you can say what company you work for so I can do some research. Thanks.

I did a similiar project for my MGMT project. Where i work (large O&G company) the morale is great. I've worked at many different downtown companies and its interesting to see how each company is run and how employees are treated.

I think the #1 thing is employee recognition. When an employee does something, they want to be recognized for it. That doesn't mean give them gifts or whatever, a simple e-mail, phone call, or quick chat with the person does wonders.

At our company, every few months an e-mail is sent out by our group leader detailing what everyone is up to and how the group as a whole is doing. To see your name with your accomplishments really means something. We also have weekly meetings with food, drinks (O&G remember) where we contribute and talk about what is going on. They do give out gift certificates, and what not, but in the end the face to face recognition is what matters.

I remember we did this personality test with our group (Insights) as a big group and it was an absolute blast to be there with everyone , laugh and goof off..... Hope that help, if you need anymore details PM me.

[QuasarCav]

Not here.

[spiceboy]

Here's how it is at my workplace:
1) 0-2% annual raise in addition to a "inflation adjustment" of 2.5% over the last 4 yrs
2) No bonus.
3) No stock option even though we are a public company
4) Expect you to put in a lot of OT (unpaid)
5) We have lunch and learn sessions that require staff to bring their own lunches

Morale = High. Why? Coz the higher management becomes a public enemy and thus staff are unified and want a piece of the execs! :-P

[TimG]

I work in high tech:

. company lunch every month

. free beer ~once a month

. free coffee... and it's good coffee

. dress code = jeans + t-shirt

. decent bonus plan

. health benefits

. flexible with hours

. T4 slips given out on January 2

. President is laid back and easy going.

. Free tickets to The Stampeed

. pretty much have free reign to do what i want without being micromanaged to hell.

. we get a feeling of satisfaction when we see our products helping people with their quality of life (one of our product lines is used in physiotherapy/medical/rehab applications)

edit

. 3 weeks of vacation

[Crymson]

My company has a strict policy of doing just enough to not piss anyone off, grudgingly sactioning the occasional event with alcohol.

Get this -- if you want to go to the Golf tourney, you have to PAY AND you have to TAKE THE DAY OFF as a vacation day. Now that is some cheap ass bullshit.

We get and EMAIL sent out the week before Christmas, tenderly reminding us, that full office hours are in effect on the last day before the Christmas weekend, and new years eve AKA "don't leave at lunch, we're watching"

The only thing that boosts "morale" is the fact that a large chunk of our workforce is younger folks, so we have a good time at the office and plan our own events -- but that's pretty much the only saving grace.

We NEVER have casual dress, unless it's some kind of United Way Scam, and the week of Stampede.

IT's not the worst, but it's certainly not the best.

[cherpintow]

Those are some great responses. Will definitely incorporate those into the report. Thanks.

[Toms-SC]

Awful, I work at Silly Hall for a small IT unit of 9 people. Due to the politics of the area on the constant back stabbing most of the department is ready to walk out.

[SlowLude]

Ha! The only reason the morale is high is because everyone that works there are new and don't know any better!

Originally posted by spiceboy
Here's how it is at my workplace:
1) 0-2% annual raise in addition to a "inflation adjustment" of 2.5% over the last 4 yrs
2) No bonus.
3) No stock option even though we are a public company
4) Expect you to put in a lot of OT (unpaid)
5) We have lunch and learn sessions that require staff to bring their own lunches

Morale = High. Why? Coz the higher management becomes a public enemy and thus staff are unified and want a piece of the execs! :-P

[Lex350]

1) accountability throughout the ordanization...top down.

2) Deliver on promises

3) Communicate with the staff. Keep them informed.

4) Have a set time of the year where all reviews must be done.

5) Company social club (casino night, Rodeo night @ the Stampede...etc)

6) If it is a sales organization, celibrate the wins with the whole company

[ole dsm]

morale is ok

the benifits are good
paid travel to and from work
above average wage
expence account
company trucks/quads(personal use)
100% medical /dental
company matched rrsp contributions
stock options
2 weeks in and 2 weeks out
pimped out camp
vacation pay
yearly bonuses
company intranet
regular internet unlimited use
monthy events(hockey, pup crawl etc.)



most of the guys think they are getting ripped off!.
ow its an O&G company

[bspot]

We get the biggest morale booster I've ever had at a company... 1st and 3rd Fridays off every month.

Million dollar christmas parties.

Other sporadic parties, on had Cirque de Soliel, one had the Barenaked Ladies and some other big band I can't remember right now.

A fridge full of free pop and juice.

Free booze get togethers for the whole company twice a year.

Casual fridays, for the ones we actually have to work.

[zieg]

We set a sales goal at the beginning of each month, and if we achieve it, we all get a couple hundred bucks.

[japancar]

One of the attractive points of working for my company is our company mission and vision statements, and the way we deal with our clients. It sounds funny, but the atmosphere of the workplace is enjoyable when you're company focus is "don't screw our clients". In the export business, that's a very easy thing to do.

Another benefit, again more relating to the country, is that we're all Canadian except for our Japanese staff (who speaks awesome English). Many people working in Japan have an issue with cultural-neglect (working with so many people who can't relate to you're own culture is fun for a while, but the novelty wears off fast. Any new-comer to Canada will fully understand this).

On a customer satisfaction side, our guys see the benefits of hard work to make a client happy. A happy client means a happy boss (me) which means a small bonus. After all, we're a service company and are nothing without happy clients.

[ashee]

"Team Builders" which are monthly outings usually to a bar/resurant for drinks, member appreciation days, weekly up-to-date meetings, summer baseball tournament, continuing education opportunites, financing seminars...