Let’s put this out there … if you take your employees for granted, you’re in trouble.
Whether you’re a fortune 500 company or a lean startup, your employees are your army and they go to battle for you every day. But what happens when one of your soldiers is hurt?
We’re referring to the situations that always present themselves, usually at the most inopportune times, that diminish an employee’s ability to complete their tasks, or prevent them from doing so altogether.
Fidelity Canada is leading by example and showing the world what it means to really take care of your employees. With various programs in place to help employees when they find themselves in a predicament, Fidelity is making it clear to their employees that they are a valued part of the Fidelity organization.
An example is their Income smoothing program, which allows employees to reduce their pay and take the difference during a sabbatical. What’s also interesting to note is that Fidelity doesn’t ask the employee for a reason, “they just need to figure out if they can accommodate the leave of absence.” This implied level of trust and respect between employer and employee speaks volumes.
Working parents? Fidelity’s got you covered. They “offer maternity and paternity top-up benefits beyond insurance standards, at 100% of salary for 25 weeks.”
What’s the common theme here? “Supporting employees during life changes.”
It’s easy to throw parties and provide various workplace ‘perks”, but taking care of your employees during the difficult periods in their lives will ensure that they’re healthier, happier, and even more loyal and productive after you’ve helped them conquer their life challenges.