The Green Goldfish Project is an attempt to crowdsource 1,001 examples of marketing lagniappe for employees. Signature little extras that make a big difference. Companies that put “employees first” to build culture, increase retention and promote positive word of mouth. For every 50 examples collected there is a Top 10 list created. Without further adieu:
Here is the fifth list from the Project from Examples #201 to 250:
10. An ergonomically designed benefit of working @thephelpsgroup
#218 – The Phelps Group
This integrated marketing communications company arms employees with ergonomically friendly Aeron chairs, as well as physical therapist setup desks, chairs and monitors to reduce injuries to necks and wrists from overuse.
Source: Los Angeles Business Journal
What is an Aeron chair? Have a look at a YouTube video breaking it down and sharing a cautionary lesson (Never wear a flesh colored shirt for on screen):
9. There is a “me” in team @wellsfargo
#207 – Wells Fargo
The management of Wells Fargo believes that the contributions of each person are necessary and valued. People who work at Wells Fargo are considered “team members,” not employees –
depending upon each other to achieve their collective vision.
Source: Los Angeles Business Journal
YouTube video on the story of Wells Fargo:
#243 – Ryan Partnership
A great company is one sentence. The philosophy of this Wilton, CT marketing agency can be summed up in its simple unofficial motto: FBNA…“Free Beer, No Assholes.”
7. A principle of listening @wdcwagency
#215 – WONGDOODY
This independent marketing agency is united by the “Democracy of Good Ideas” principle. Any staffer could come up with the next big idea. It encourages participation and rewards keen judgment.
Source: Los Angeles Business Journal
YouTube video showcasing a year in the life of WDCW:
6. 20,000 reasons to learn and grow @accenture
#237 – Accenture
MyLearning, Accenture’s global online learning portal, boasts 20,000 learning courses that range from core training to technical training.
Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle
YouTube video from the Chief Learning Officer about the concept of inculturation:
5. Freedom to get the job done @edmunds
#203 – Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com boasts an innovative corporate culture, highlighted by a rollout of a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) in 2012. Under ROWE, Edmunds.com employees are offered the freedom to work at any time from any location where they can most effectively deliver their expected results.
YouTube video on Edmunds workers being car people (literally):
4. People first, employee second at Hallmark Cards (@HallmarkPR)
#247 – Hallmark Cards
Submitted via e-mail by Anna Farmery of The Engaging Brand:
I believe in personal leadership. I always kept a track of each of the people who worked in my teams, I valued the fact that they were willing to spend their day trying to achieve our goals. I believed in knowing all the 1,500 people by name and spent at least part of my week walking round and connecting with them not as a ‘role’ but as a person. The benefit was that they opened up and talked to me honestly of the issues. Indeed I always wanted to know about them, their dreams to see if I could help them in their career.
For instance a personal assistant after one talk moved into a creative role, a legal secretary became an in house trainer for our leadership development role.
To show I valued them as a person I always wrote them a birthday card with a personal message about something we had talked about – it was interesting because when I left the Director who took over tried to continue this but merely put Happy Birthday and signed his name. Instead of motivating, it demotivated as he didn’t know them…they saw it as a task he had to perform…not a card with meaning.
Leaders so often see employees, for me people who work with you are people first and if you value them and their dreams then they will value you and your dreams.
3. Fresh produce at Kaiser Permanente
#210 – Kaiser Permanente (@KPSCALnews)
KP sponsors bi-weekly farmer’s markets at their campuses throughout Southern California.
Source: Los Angeles Business Journal
YouTube video on the Farmer’s Market:
2. Visibility one step at a time @CampbellSoupCo
#248 – Campbell Soup Company
Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell’s took purposeful steps to being visible and promotion good health at Campbell’s.
YouTube video. Doug talking to HBR about 10,000 steps per day to stay connected to employees:
and the #1 example from the fourth Top Ten List:
1. Helping to save lives and giving back to soldiers @DecisiveToday
#250 – Decisive Analytics Corporation
DAC, a military contractor, gives back: Each quarter, staffers assemble care packages for soldiers overseas.
Source: Washingtonian Magazine
Today’s Lagniappe (a little something extra for good measure) – Google seems to always pop up and this list is no exception:
Strike up another perk @google
#205 – Google
Google has a bowling alley for employees.
