Not everyone can be satisfied with their job. As a matter of fact, in a 2014 survey conducted by Right Management, 65 percent of individuals that were surveyed were either somewhat or totally unsatisfied with their jobs. In a Mercer study of 30,000 workers worldwide, between 28 percent and 56 percent of workers around the globe wanted to leave their jobs.
But dozens of Canadian organizations have made their companies exceptional places to work and they rise to the top by continuing to get even better, every year. That requires a dedicated commitment to make their workplace the best it can possibly be through a variety of innovative programs. Stryker Canada Inc. in Hamilton recently increased parental leave top-up payments to 100 percent of salary for 26 weeks. Telus Corp. in Vancouver, hired a Chief Wellness Officer to support employee efforts to make healthy choices. Many smaller firms have introduced flexible “no limit” vacation policies. And the list goes on.
There are many reasons to give employees an opportunity or a second chance, and the tools to improve. The employee becomes more effective, it makes employers look better and the need to terminate an employee is reduced.
I had a friend who worked for years in the design and layout of mechanical piping systems. New technology eventually made his job redundant. At 40 years of age, he had to prepare for a new career. Considering many options, he finally went with his gut. He had always been enamoured with the stock market, so he returned to school and became a stockbroker. He was ready to find a position. Resumes were forwarded to all the brokerage firms in Toronto, landing some interviews but each was a rejection. He had no broker-related experience and he was after all 40, a little old, especially when competing with candidates with a recent MBA degree. Even that didn’t deter him. He went to one interview, only to find the manager had left his office for the day. However, the boss’s assistant took time to see him. During their discussion, the associate recalled one of their small office’s uptown was hiring. He made arrangements for him to meet this female manager that afternoon. When the two met, they both noticed they were wearing a similar style of dress and colour. Both simultaneously said, “Nice clothes” and the ice was broken. She hired him despite the reasons the other firms didn’t.
My friend rose from an entry level job to a senior level one, through advancements and
overcoming challenges along the way. This career was more successful than his first. He was often heard to say, “When you finally find the job against all odds, you give it your best and let the magic of the world carry the rest.”
In Ottawa, a well respected engineering firm I’m familiar with, gave someone a chance to get back into field work despite leaving a previous one without a good reference. He was again working where he needed to be. Things went for smoothly for many years. Then he had a terrible accident and eventually had to be on benefits for longer than a year. He naturally worried about his future, that his employer might not require him. Finally, when he was ready to resume working, he was welcomed back to his former job. From then on, this employee couldn’t be more satisfied and praised his employer repeatedly. “Having a second chance makes you want to work even harder.”
I liked my job with Stackpole Packaging but on this particular Monday morning I was in the Human Resources office repeating, “I really screwed up, I’m going to resign.” Mrs. Beal wouldn’t let me even leave her office until I explained the problem to the General Manager who was on his way in. I could sense she was worried for me too.
This unfortunate situation began the previous Friday. As part of management, I was told that a company was coming to discreetly look our company over with the possibility of buying it. That evening I told my wife and sister-in-law, who had dropped in for a chat. She worked for one of the banks and sometimes checked out the ATM’s part-time. She did so on that weekend and ran into someone she knew from her past. Discovering this friend worked at the same place as myself, my sister-in-law unwittingly said, “I hear Stackpole might be sold.” That started the rumour mill going.
Monday morning first thing, someone came to my office saying, “I hear you said our company has been sold.” I was dumbfounded. I quickly made a couple of calls and realized what had occurred. I knew I was in big trouble.
Now waiting for the GM, I wished I was anyplace else. He arrived. I told him of the sordid chain of events. He cursed and swore, totally out of character. His face got so red, I thought he would pop a cork. I would have made a run for it but he was between me and the door, and bigger too. Eventually he calmed, then couldn’t suppress a giggle, alarming me further at the thought of what was next. Instead, Jim said, “Don’t worry Bob, these things happen. My own father was in the same boat many years ago.” He decided to be transparent with all 160 employees at a special meeting early afternoon to steady the waters. That day was also the longest day I ever put in. However, I was most grateful to my boss for getting a second chance.
Westmeath has its excellent employer as well. Kenny’s Store provided work for dozens and dozens of people, young and old, male and female, for two generations of the family owners. Most were not long-term, rather for reasons of earning some extra cash, in between other jobs or a teenager needing experience working with cash. There were many grandchildren of the senior Kenny’s who did their time, dealing with customers to gain confidence and extra money to help with their education. Now the store is modernized but it still needs employees as much as the employees need the store, as it always has been. If a survey were taken, it would be unlikely that even one employee would have been dissatisfied to work in Kenny’s Store.
