an essential workplace triad

Participating in various workplace health fairs is one portion of my job I find both easy and rewarding. This morning I had the opportunity of doing so with one of our covered companies. This organization was in fact the first to ever sign a contract with Tanner EAP—actually a few weeks before we were able to offer an employee assistance program to our own team members. I believe Tanner and this workplace have some things in common.

Both are committed to their employees. One obvious indicator is the number of quality employees who have worked with each company for an extended number of years. Regardless of the changes that become necessary in order to continue to do business, when an organization treats its employees well, the best stay and become partners, no longer just workers.

They are customer oriented. Service to immediate customers and the community at large are priorities that are clearly reflected in day-to-day operations and in their response to ongoing issues. They plan within, but they solicit and listen to the input of those they serve, and make adjustments as necessary to meet needs.

Visitors feel welcome. Not just because every visitor is a potential customer, but because in each organization there seems to be an ethic that says people matter and deserve to be treated with respect. Self-serving? Sure, but the better good is always self-serving.

Don’t get me wrong. Neither of these companies is perfect—far from it. I am certain that on any given day, one could find reasonable and responsible individuals to attest to the imperfections of either of these work settings. But in realizing their shortcomings and continually making efforts to improve, they stand as examples of the kind of workplace that is vital to a growing community.

Take care of your employees—they are the most valuable resource you have. Take care of your customers—they will make or break your business in the long run. Treat others with respect—whether they ever work for you or buy from you, they will spread your good will.