Photos: Stephanie Secrest - East Bay Business Times
BY GINA COMPARINI
There was a time when companies pitched promise instead of resumes. Plump budgets were common and so were mandatory fun days. Office vibe was a valid topic to discuss over cock-tails. Job seekers combed bountiful classified listings as though they were shopping for blue jeans. Everyone wanted a perfect fit, but looking good in something new was intriguing, too.
What a difference three years makes.
In 2001 and 2002, war, world events and a softening economy reversed many of the gains companies enjoyed during the dot-com boom. Layoffs in technology, tourism and other industries have become common and have forced thousands of people into a tight job market. In staff meetings and board rooms, employers are speaking freely about how times have changed. Sober headlines announcing layoffs combined with skinny budgets and heftier workloads have left many employees feeling undervalued, disposable and rather unappreciated.
Employers definitely have the upper hand in the current job market, says Holly Schroth, senior lecturer at UC Berkeley's Haas Business School. Some companies, which may still be profitable, are using the economy as an excuse to lay off under performing workers. Others have let employees go in order to survive the downturn or to restructure their organizations, she says.
Employee motivation is in jeopardy when new workers are not given the same benefits as those hired during the boom time, Schroth says. "Companies of strong integrity haven't changed their policies as far as reward systems and benefits are concerned," she says. "But some of my students are already feeling unmotivated because other students hired last year received large signing bonuses and higher salaries for the same or lesser positions. Unfortunately, right now, some of the students are satisfied to have a job."
When the economy was booming, employers went to great lengths to attract new employees and keep the good ones from moving on, but the business climate has changed, says Nance Cheifetz, who runs Sense of Delight, a San Rafael company that boosts workplace morale through recognition and teambuidling sessions.
Dressing the part. Nance Cheifetz, who runs recognition and teambuilding
sessions, says making workers feel valued almost magically increases motivation.
"People are feeling more overwhelmed and stressed out," she says. "Morale in the workplace is at an all-time low. It's very hard to feel successful during times when you are overworked and fearful you may lose your job."
Many factors contribute to workplace doldrums. These days, people aren't taking the time to reflect on benchmark successes, and they are not getting the recognition and approval they need from employers, Cheifetz says. This trend works against business because employees are more creative and motivated when they feel appreciated, she says. "If you view an employee as valuable, that person will rise up to meet your expectations," Cheifetz says. Employers would benefit from investing time and energy in their employees' mental health, she says. Sometimes, taking what's difficult in the workplace and turning it around with humor can bring people together.
Camaraderie in the workplace proved valuable for Southwest Airlines, which, like other carriers, faced potential profit losses after Sept. 11. In the weeks that followed the attacks, the Dallas-based airline, which operates out of Oakland and 58 other cities nationwide, maintained its flight schedule at all of its airports, according to Southwest spokesperson Whitney Brewer.
"Since Sept. 11, we all really bonded," Brewer says. "We were working to make sure the company succeeded and that brought us closer together." Southwest has built employee appreciation into a corporate culture that emphasizes personal and business success. Employees fly free and can benefit from a profit-sharing program. Employee feedback is encouraged and makes workers feel they are a part of company decisions when they are made, Brewer said. The airline also selects an outstanding employee each month, and that employee appears in Spirit, Southwest's magazine.
Some companies show their appreciation by having lunch catered or by holding meetings at restaurants instead of in the usual conference rooms. Recently, Sense of Delight was called in to help employees with Kaiser Permanente's Physician Recruitment in Oakland celebrate a successful year. The 26-employee department took some time away from their desks to munch on French pastries and have some fun, says manager Wayne Alien.
"Staff enjoyed it," he says. "And they recognized it as our way of showing appreciation."
In the News 
