So these Massachusetts employees are telling us that they are working harder, with less work-life flexibility, but feeling more appreciated. Does that make sense?
“I’m not surprised at all,’’ said Alan G. Robinson, a professor at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Tough economic times are when employees and managers at the best companies pull together.’’
At poorly run companies, hard times have the opposite effect, Robinson said. “That’s when you see things start pulling apart,’’ he said. “That’s when the squabbling starts.’’
At Cape Cod medical practice Emerald Physicians, which scored very high in “employee appreciation’’ in the Top Places survey, “we have great perks, but we are also appreciated and empowered,’’ said Julie Badot, the director of marketing and special projects. “Ultimately, it’s the combination of both that makes this a great place to work.’’
Badot said that more important than Emerald’s perks - which include free lunches every Thursday, company outings to concerts, and free weekly yoga sessions - is management’s trust that each employee has the ability and the authority to do the right thing.
“People know they are valued,’’ she said. “That’s what it’s about.’’
Yet Emerald is a demanding employer. The practice, which has nine locations on the Cape, is open nearly 10 hours a day. The staff of around 130 serves more than 30,000 patients a year.
“The work here is difficult. We don’t sugar-coat that,’’ Badot said.
An unpredictable economy has caused many companies to put off hiring, which means more work for the existing staff. Robinson says the best employers are sure to recognize the extra effort. “If the leaders of a company are people-centered, and they communicate to the employees that, yes, we’re in tough times, but we’re going to get through it - that makes people feel good, appreciated,’’ he said.
