September 11, 2009 - The current recession - considered one of the worst since the Great Depression - is proving to be a "game changer" for organizations in all sectors of the economy. A study conducted by the Families and Work Institute in May 2009 found that most companies (81%) are maintaining the workplace flexibility they offer during the recession and another 13% are increasing it. The question remains: to what extent are employers able to continue to be good places for employees to work while dealing with these very difficult business survival issues?
The 2009 winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility offer a unique picture of organizations that are finding this middle ground. "From new forms of flexible work arrangements that minimize lay-offs, to creative cost-cutting that retains core medical benefits, to providing financial information and support to employees, these employers are braving the economic storm through innovative policies that prevent undue shock to their workplaces and their employees," said Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute.
For the second year in a row, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), an agency in the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) was named a winner of the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Awards, distinguishing MIOSHA as a leading practitioner of workplace flexibility in Michigan and across the nation.
"MIOSHA's success in creating a flexible, welcoming workplace shows how public sector employers can build outstanding corporate cultures," said Mulhern. "Workplace flexibility is a benefit that has huge value for employees and their families. At the same time, it's a benefit with little or no cost for employers. Everyone wins."
The Sloan Awards honor organizations of all sizes and all types in Michigan and across the country that are using workplace flexibility as a strategy to increase workplace effectiveness and yield positive business results. MIOSHA was one of 34 winners recognized at an awards ceremony sponsored by the First Gentleman Dan Mulhern, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Detroit Regional Chamber at the Lansing Radisson Hotel.
The Sloan Awards are part of the When Work Works project, an ongoing initiative of Families and Work Institute, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce), and the Twiga Foundation. Through When Work Works, these partner organizations provide research, resources, and recognition to employers nationwide, and share the results of research on creating effective and flexible workplaces that meet the needs of the 21st century.
"We are thrilled that MIOSHA - for the second year - is receiving this award for their outstanding workplace practices," said Susan R. Corbin, DELEG Deputy Director & Chief of Staff. "This recognition is an excellent example of how a public agency, with a variety of employee unions and needs, can create flexibility to meet the needs of employees and provide the best service possible to their customers."
The mission of the MIOSHA Program is to protect the safety and health of Michigan's working men and women. The agency has been in the forefront of Governor Granholm's efforts to offer alternative work schedules and workplace flexibility.
To become a more flexible organization takes more than implementing work schedule options. For MIOSHA, it started in 2000 with steps to create a much more participatory management culture. Today, nine years later, MIOSHA staff report a much higher level of job satisfaction, of involvement in decision making, and appreciation for the many work schedule options.
MIOSHA's experience illustrates what other Sloane winners have found:
- You cannot automatically put "customers first" above employee concerns. Rather, when the workplace addresses staff issues, the staff are more responsive to customers and true customer service excellence can become a reality.
- Employees need involvement and input in decision making and managers need to listen.
- Employees must have opportunities to be challenged, to learn and to upgrade their skills.
- And, a culture of trust is essential. Employers who trust employees, and establish sound metrics for accountability create work environments where it is not necessary to look over people's shoulders to ensure good work.
The Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility are part of the When Work Works project, an ongoing initiative of Families and Work Institute, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce), and the Twiga Foundation. Through When Work Works, these partner organizations provide research, resources, and recognition to employers nationwide. The project shares the results of research on creating effective and flexible workplaces that meet the needs of the 21st century.
Each of the 2009 Sloan Award winners will also be recognized nationally and will be featured in next year's edition of the Guide to Bold New Ideas for Making Work Work, published by the Families and Work Institute.
Now in its fifth year, the prestigious awards program expanded its application base to organizations nation-wide for the first time in 2009. With the introduction of an "at-large" category and 30 participating communities across the country, any organization in the U.S. was eligible for the award.
Applicants were evaluated in a rigorous two-step process, first comparing the employer's application to nationally representative data from Families and Work Institute's National Study of Employers, and then corroborating the employer responses through a survey of employees.
For more information about When Work Works or the Alfred P. Sloan Awards, please contact Tyler Wigton at 212.465.2044 or twigton@familiesandwork.orgor Kelly Sakai at 212.465.2044 x 211 and at ksakai@familiesandwork.org.
ABOUT FAMILIES AND WORK INSTITUTE Families and Work Institute (FWI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that studies the changing workforce, family and community. As a preeminent think tank, FWI is known for being ahead of the curve, identifying emerging issues, and then conducting rigorous research that often challenges common wisdom and provides insight and knowledge. As an action tank, FWI conducts numerous studies that put its research into action and then evaluates the results. Its purpose is to create research to live by. For more information, see www.familiesandwork.org.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is working to ensure that businesses have access - today and tomorrow - to an educated and skilled workforce. ICW's primary responsibilities for the When Work Works project are to provide support to the communities and connect local initiatives to national Chamber efforts. For more information, visit www.uschamber.com/icw.
ABOUT THE TWIGA FOUNDATION The Twiga Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, promoting and maintaining a family consciousness at home, in the workplace and in the community. Twiga's primary responsibilities for the When Work Works project are to provide support to the communities, acting as a liaison to key stakeholders in the When Work Works communities to build a broad local leadership constituency for creating better workplaces that meet the needs of employees, employers and communities. For more information, visit www.twigafoundation.org.
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