Do Happy Employees Equal a Better Bottom Line?
T ake Your Dog to Work Day is so 1990s. The concept of keeping employees happy at work has shifted beyond cute pets and casual Fridays and – hey, here’s a concept – toward the actual employees. Consider Porter Keadle Moore, an accounting firm that promotes the psychological health of its employees as a top priority. The company mandates vacations before heavy tax seasons and has early release Fridays in the summer. Employees are encouraged to put their families first and are offered part time, flex time and work from home options to do so. Employees are mentored, given opportunities for professional development in and out of the office, and follow a Career Track Planning Guide, which “specifically details the requirements and expectations through each level of the organization – from intern to partner,” according to Deborah Sessions, partner and COO with PKM. “Employees know what they need to do to progress to the next stage in their career.” The focus on each employee as an individual
