1. Great Place to Work Journey
Creating a Culture of Excellence

2. Today’s Presentation Will Cover
What is the Great Place to Work Journey?
What makes a Great Place to Work?
The university’s journey so far…
Progress
Change at the local level
Current findings
What you can do to help balance your work & life to create your own great place to work

3. What is the Great Place to Work Journey?
NY Times Reporter asked to write a book about the 100 best places to work for in America – 20+ years ago
Collected data, conducted interviews, created the initial list
Led to follow-up book and ultimately the Great Place to Work Institute

4. What Makes a Great Place to Work?
Institute began to question and understand common characteristics among best place to work companies.
Looked for commonalities on programs – training, performance management, compensation, etc.
None discovered - no real trends or commonalities.

5. What Makes a Great Place to Work?
Three features existed in all the companies that made the list:
You trust the people you work for
You have pride in what you do
You enjoy the people you work with

6. We are measuring at both the institutional and the individual department levels

7. The University at Buffalo’s Journey Begins…
At the start of this endeavor we requested input from staff and faculty on what they thought needed to be done to make UB a great place to work – Over 2,500 staff reached and provided feedback on university-wide issues.

8. From These Initial Conversations:
Wellness and Work/Life Balance
More Robust EAP Function
Organizational Training and Development
Volunteer Program – CORE
Discount Program for Employees
Proposing More Flexible Scheduling
New Employee Orientation
Recognition Programs

9. Measurement at Local & National Level
Tell Us What You Think!

10. Building a Great Place to Work at the Local Level
Matters related to pay, taxation, and benefits can be complex but are fundamentally connected to our employees’ satisfaction.

11. Building a Great Place to Work
Step 1 – Develop a customized climate survey
Step 2 – Presentation to department outlining process
Step 3 – Administer survey and analyze results
Step 4 – Present survey results & share what areas are in need of focus
Step 5 – Meet in small (5-7) focus group to discuss climate survey
Step 6 – Present recommendations to improve work culture.

12. Building a Great Place to Work
Positive Trends
Treated with respect by department leaders
Pride in work
Flexibility and Work/Life Balance
Commitment to Professional Development
The University is a Great Place to Work

13. Building a Great Place to Work
Areas of Focus
Honest and Clear Communication
Greater involvement of employees in the decision-making process
Recognition and appreciation of employees
Building Camaraderie

14. What’s Your Role? Bring us to your department to conduct an assessment
Continuous feedback opportunities are available online at
Realize that everyone has a personal responsibility to contribute to making this a better workplace.
Taking care of your own work/life balance helps contribute to a better work environment!

15. Family Work Self Friends
Meaningful Daily ACHIEVEMENT and ENJOYMENT In Each of Life’s Four Quadrants:
Family
Work
Self
Friends

16. Achieving Your Own Work/Life Balance
There is no “one size fits all answer” to achieving work/life balance. Everyone’s responsibilities are different.
There is no room for guilt in any effort to achieve this goal.
There are ways that cost money, but more that do not.
Don’t allow yourself to put “you” last!

17. Exercise & Fitness

18. Exercise And Fitness UB Recreation and Intramurals Walking program
Gym discounts
UB community events
Exercises at your desk
Weight Watchers at Work
Better food choices at work/in meetings

19. Flexible Work Arrangements

20. Alternate Work Arrangements
Types:
Flextime
Compressed work weeks
Job sharing
Telecommuting
Part-time schedules

21. Alternate Work Arrangements
Why?
Increased productivity
Improved morale
Use as recruiting tool
Retains more employees
Good for the environment
Reduces absenteeism and tardiness

22. Utilize Employee Discounts

23. Utilize Employee Discounts
Tickets at Work
Cell Phone Discounts
Car Dealership Discounts
SUNY Perks
Hair Salons
Fitness Facilities
Campus Discounts

24. Stress Management

25. Stress Management Reach out to EAP Desktop Spa NYS Balance
IAMT Meditation Sessions
Remember: Don’t put yourself last!

26. Questions?

27. Wellness and Work/Life Balance Team
Ready to Balance?
Amy Myszka, Director
Lydia Broughton-Wilder
Pete Logiudice
Contact us!
Wellness & Work Life Balance:
Kathie Frier
Amy Myszka