Massages, free drugs ease the daily grind

By SELWYN PARKER

How does your company rate against the most employee-friendly companies in America, where the perks are seductive, time off generous and bonuses alluring?

Not surprisingly, these companies have low staff turnover.

First, the perks. Californian construction firm Granite Rock's health plan includes 12 massages a year, while online broker Charles Schwab does even better by providing on-site massages during busy periods, reports Fortune magazine in its Best Companies list for last year.

Continental Airlines gives four-wheel-drive Ford Explorers for perfect attendance.

Drug company Pfizer hands out prescription drugs free, including Viagra.

The largesse of a Toyota distributor in Florida includes free haircuts and manicures, a swimming pool that is open all day, and use of the company jet in emergencies.

At credit-card firm MBNA, employees get an extra week's holiday just for getting married. And at Ukrop's Super Markets you get a day off on your birthday plus $US50 ($97) to celebrate.

Your good health is their worry. American Cast Iron Pipe in Birmingham, Alabama, runs an on-site clinic with seven doctors and five dentists who provide free care for present and former employees and their families.

First Tennessee bank pays staff $US130 for practising "10 healthy behaviours," presumably including running up the stairs.

Sun Microsystems in Palo Alto sets aside rooms where stressed staff can withdraw and meditate.

Most of these firms are flexible about flexitime, such as St Louis broker Edward Jones, which just tells staff: "Do what is right and human."

At Seattle software firm WRQ, 95 per cent of staff work flexitime and, of course, enjoy on-site massages when they do turn up at the office. WRQ also lays on a mini-marina for staff who paddle to work.

Generosity in financial matters is virtually assumed at these organisations. Performance bonuses, profit-sharing, all-inclusive health plans, retirement packages - all are just about standard.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has such liberal profit-sharing and share option deals that there are dozens of millionaires among its employees.

At family-owned joinery-maker Pella in Iowa, every one of the 5000 employees has received a 15 per cent pay boost from profits for the past 48 years.

Egalitarian corporate cultures are in. At Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas, the chief executive's pay cannot be more than 10 times the average store worker's.

At disk-drive maker Quantum, the rank and file get the offices with windows while managers work inside.

Among the Best Companies, time off rates more highly than bonuses and options. Last year, 1803 employees of chip-maker Intel took an eight-week sabbatical.

Patagonia, a manufacturer of rugged clothing, encourages staff to take up to two months' paid leave a year to work for the non-profit organisation of their choice.

Who said capitalism rapes the workers?


* Selwyn Parker is available at wordz@xtra.co.nz.