When improving ourselves, it’s smart to look towards the best of the best to look for areas of improvement. In this article, I’ll be examining what there is to learn from Delta Airlines, REI, and CoverMyMeds.
Given that 40% of Delta’s employees have been with the company for more than 20 years, it’s safe to say there must be something holding the employees with Delta like a magnet. 90% of the employees agree with optimistic and prideful remarks such as, “I’m proud to tell others I work for Delta,” and “I want to work here for a long time.” Above all, Delta employees cite their coworkers as the primary reason they enjoy their workplace. This is among other factors such as benefits, culture, and flights.
At CoverMyMeds, 91% of their employees state that it is a great place to work. Unlike Delta that is built of a much older workforce, 84% of CoverMyMeds’ employees are millennials. This creates a much different workplace culture. Reasons employees enjoy working at CoverMyMeds include: perceived job security, the ability to take time off, a welcoming energy, and responsibility. Many employees say they feel free. It is clear that at CoverMyMeds, listening to employee concerns is an essential part of their HR practices.
REI has been around since 1938 and is the nation’s largest outdoor Co-Op. Their employee’s are confident in the company’s impact on local communities and rate their service as “excellent.” Their employees are united in their passion for the outdoors and pride in the company. As a customer, I’ve always had a lot of respect for REI because of their Black Friday policy. Every year on Black Friday, REI closes their doors and encourages their employees to enjoy the outdoors or spend time with their families. What could be viewed by some as huge loss in opportunity cost is viewed by the company as an opportunity to care for its employees and gain some positive publicity.
One day I might be managing my own employees, and it’s clear to me I can learn a lot from these great companies. The underlying these seems to be a positive workplace culture and generous employee benefits. I hope to be understanding of individual employee needs so that they feel comfortable in their work-life balance. A difficult hurdle however would be balancing resources to create the most optimal experience for employees. As much as I would love to provide great benefits and lots of time off to avoid burnout, I understand this may not be possible with the financial resources at my disposal. To supplement any lack of resources, I want to ensure that my employees always feel listened to and heard. This means developing an effective system for employees to voice their feedback and to seriously implement feedback when possible and reasonable.
Fortune 100 best companies to work for® 2020. Great Place to Work®. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/100-best/2020
Work, G. P. to. (n.d.). Working at covermymeds. Great Place to Work®. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7007983
Work, G. P. to. (n.d.). Working at Delta Air Lines, inc.. Great Place to Work®. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1120577
Work, G. P. to. (n.d.). Working at Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI). Great Place to Work®. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1000409
