Another comment: “Layoffs? I don’t even want to hear that word!”
California Work Sharing Program: One California company uses the California Work Sharing Program to help avoid layoffs. Employees can receive unemployment benefits for the missed days. It has to be a minimum 20% reduction in wages - such as working a 4-day week instead of a 5-day week.
The participant noted: “It does affect your unemployment insurance rates a little bit. But I think all of us on this call understand just how expensive it is to get the employee, to train the employee, to maintain the employee And and the last thing that you want to do is have to let that person go or to replace that person that's got the knowledge and experience of your company.”
Employee Appreciation: Several ways of celebrating employees were offered, such as hot lunches, dinners for salespeople hitting targets, birthday cards, gift cards, vending machine tokens, celebration of personal or team landmarks on social media, and more. One participant encouraged others not to just follow examples such as these, noting that “you really need to just dive in and find what’s specific to your guys, what matters to them.”
Employee Voluntary Benefits: Employee benefits can be attractive to prospective and existing employees. A job searcher is more likely to choose a job with benefits. “A health plan is huge, especially if I have a family. I need to know I can provide for the medical needs.” In the case of voluntary benefits, the premiums are paid by employees rather than employers, who simply act as vehicles for the service. Benefits are paid through regular payroll deductions.
Training, Mentoring: When business is slow, it is the perfect time to train employees. And for mandatory training in particular, try to time it for predictably quiet times of year. Beyond compliance, training for basic skills such as language can help employees improve their quality of life - a great outcome for workers and companies alike.
Participants reflected on their experience as mentees, and the role of mentoring within the WPA network as well as in their own companies.
This session included a lot of great advice. Unfortunately, this report has just scratched the surface in terms of covering everything said. Be sure to attend the next WPA online event in person. Check out Events at the WPA website.
MAY 2023