Trends from the 2007 Top Small Workplaces Data Report: Employee Benefits
We discuss the data we analyzed from the 2007 applicant pool and winners as it relates to health insurance, profit sharing/stock purchase plans and work/life balance.
2007 Top Small Workplaces Conference Finale: 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes
Read how a panel consisting of previous session speakers tackled, in rapid-fire fashion, attendee questions about the most pressing workplace issues.
Afternoon Conference Speakers Discuss Maintaining Culture, Providing 'Extreme' Service
Read summaries of the two concurrent sessions that rounded out the afternoon programming of our 2007 Top Small Workplaces Conference.
'Free' Lunches an Investment in Camaraderie, Productivity
More small organizations are offering free lunch incentives that strengthen the company culture, improve employee job satisfaction, and help lower turnover.
What Type of Money Should You Raise? Part 2
The managing partner of private investment firm Granite Creek Partners, LLC presents the fifth in a series of articles designed to demystify private equity. This month: Assessing risk of capital sources and their alliance with your organization.
Innovation, Retention the Focus of Morning Conference Sessions
Read summaries of the two concurrent sessions that rounded out the morning programming of our 2007 Top Small Workplaces Conference.
Top Small Workplaces Conference Speakers Show Grounded Idealism
We show how the themes of the Top Small Workplaces Conference October 4, 2007 keynote speakers compared and contrasted.
What Type of Money Should You Raise? Part 1
The managing partner of private investment firm Granite Creek Partners, LLC presents the fourth in a series of articles designed to demystify private equity. This month: A primer on equity, mezzanine capital and senior debt.
How to Position Your Company to Access Outside Capital, Part 2
The managing partner of private investment firm Granite Creek Partners, LLC presents the third in a series of articles designed to demystify private equity. This month: The second of a two-part series on preparing to access outside capital.
Temperature Read: Juggling Work and Personal Time
Read the results of our July 2007 survey of over 100 workers on their sense of work/life balance and workplace flexibility.
Meet the Top Small Workplaces Judges
We provide bios of the eight judges for the 2007 Top Small Workplaces project, including their observations about the finalists and the judging process.
How to Position Your Company to Access Outside Capital, Part 1
The managing partner of private investment firm Granite Creek Partners, LLC presents the second in a series of articles designed to demystify private equity. This month: The first of a two-part series on preparing to access outside capital.
Tips to Best Utilize Older Workers in Your Workforce
It's inevitable: Baby Boomers are retiring and will continue to do so for years to come. But what happens to your workplace knowledge base? In a guest column, Employee & Family Resources provides counsel on how to leverage it before it's gone.
Why Should Your Small Enterprise Go Green?
From increasing your community cred to saving money, we outline the benefits and scope of practices that small businesses are increasingly moving toward to "go green." And, surprise: many measures cost nothing or next to nothing to implement.
Demystifying Private Equity
The managing partner of private investment firm Granite Creek Partners, LLC presents the first in a series of articles designed to demystify private equity along with other alternative capital markets.
Best Bosses Reveal Small Business' Concerns About Health Insurance
A major survey recently identified access to affordable health care as the primary issue on the public's domestic agenda. Read the results of our own survey of Best Bosses to see what their organizations are doing to address this complicated issue.
Successful Business Owners Weigh in on How to Keep Older Employees in Workforce
Evidence suggests that retiring workers will weigh down U.S. economic growth in the coming years, unless employers take steps to retain more older employees. Read some of our Best Bosses' thoughts on how this issue affects their workplaces.
Workplace-based Chaplains Ease HR Burden
A growing number of organizations are turning to chaplains who undergo specialized training to enter into workplaces in order to help employees deal with personal issues that can influence their performance.
Open Book Management, Internal Leadership Development Themes of Afternoon Sessions
In a series of articles, we share the tips, strategies and insights from the 2006 Best Bosses Conference workshops. Part 4 takes an in-depth look at two of the afternoon sessions, "Why Great Organizations Use Open Book Management" and "Tips and Strategies for Internal Leadership Development."
Cubicles Today: Applications and Trends
We take a look at how employees' needs are changing the cubicle landscape in the 21st century. We also offer tips for businesses transitioning their staff from a traditional workplace into a modern, cubicle-filled one.
Afternoon Sessions Address Workplace Design, Employee Volunteerism
In a series of articles, we share the tips, strategies and insights from the 2006 Best Bosses Conference workshops. Part 3 takes an in-depth look at two of the afternoon sessions, "The Influence of Design on Workplace Culture" and "The Business Case for Employee Volunteerism."
The Push for Paid Sick Leave
The Center for Law and Social Policy is part of a growing number of entities working to ensure that U.S. employees have equal and adequate access to paid sick leave.
Conference Sessions Focus on Organizational Change
In a series of articles, we share the tips, strategies and insights from the 2006 Best Bosses Conference workshops. Part 2 takes an in-depth look at two of the morning sessions, "Evolution of a Best Boss: Changing to Grow Your Organization" and "Small Steps to Big Culture Change."
Best Bosses Share Insights from the Trenches
In a series of articles, we share the tips, strategies and insights from the 2006 Best Bosses Conference workshops. Part 1 takes an in-depth look at two of the morning sessions, "Attracting, Retaining and Engaging Your Most Valuable Asset – Employees" and "Back from the Brink: Sustaining Your Organization Through Innovation."
Michelle Obama Delivers Address at Best Bosses Conference
Michelle Obama of the University of Chicago Hospitals delivered the Plenary Address at our 2006 Best Bosses Conference. Read a summary of her remarks on "Creating Relationships Between Business and Community."
The Benefits of Employer-Assisted Housing
Employer-assisted housing (EAH) has been gaining momentum locally and statewide since the late 1990s. With a federal EAH bill pending, read why more employers are recognizing the benefits of these programs for their workers and the greater community.
Luxottica's Foundation Gives Gift of Sight, Connects Employees
Eyewear manufacturer and distributor Luxottica's Give the Gift of Sight Foundation provides eye care for people who can't afford to help themselves – all the while connecting the organization's retail employees with vendors and volunteers.
Building a Culture of Collaboration
Suburban Chicago's Family Shelter Service, which assists victims of domestic violence, has improved employee communication, emphasized professional development and educated staff on managing conflict.
A Switch That Works
Serial entrepreneur and G2 SwitchWorks CEO Alex Zoghlin takes a team approach to creating a viable financial model in an ailing travel industry.
Mather LifeWays Taps into Employees' Health Needs
Mather LifeWays, an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults, is about to launch the second phase of its company-wide wellness program. Director of Wellness Strategies Reed Engel discusses the history of wellness and how it relates to his organization's approach to fostering happier, healthier employees.
Employee Wellness and Health Costs
Recent news has focused on employers that threaten to fire employees who smoke or are overweight in order to reduce health costs. See what some of our Best Bosses do to support employee wellness.
Looking Both Ways
The end of one year and the beginning of another is often a time of assessment, reflection and goal setting. We asked some of the leaders of small and midsize organizations whom we have recognized as Best Bosses in the last three years to share what they are thinking about as they approach the new year.
Building Value When You Hire: Advice from Industry Vets
Michael Kennedy is the founder and president of Commercial Texas, a leading Austin-based commercial real estate services firm. Victor Levi is currently CEO for Insights Learning & Development-Austin, an organizational development and learning company with offices in over 33 countries. In this article, they discuss the importance of personality and "fit" when hiring new talent.
Mass Transit
Patrick Bennett is the Senior Planner, Service Design and Development, for the Chicago Transit Authority. In this article, he discusses assistance available through local, metropolitan transit agencies to employers of people who commute to work via public transportation.
Blue Jeans Day
The Chicago office of Deloitte has taken the relatively routine practice of casual Fridays and added an interesting twist.