On-site Amenities

The two-income household trend has made it more difficult for people to accomplish everyday chores and tasks, such as taking in the dry cleaning, working out, and mailing letters. An article by Maggie Jackson of the Associated Press outlined actions some companies have taken in response to this trend.

The article talks about Owen's Corning, and the "village" it has at its headquarters in Toledo, Ohio. Included in the village are the following:

• Health club,
• Gift and snack shop,
• General store,
• Café,
• Library.

Also mentioned in the article -- USAA, which offers employees:

• Free shots for their children,
• Work-site neck and back massages,
• Fields for softball.

The author of this web page recalls that Microsoft provides a number of interesting items for employees, including:

• Company store with deep discounts on software,
• Free beverages,
• Mailing services at Christmas.

Lifestyle benefits, says the article, are becoming important recruiting tools. Mike Major, director of Human Resources at Netscape, is quoted as saying "To the extent that we can provide tools to make (life) easier, presumably people will seek better balance or have more time to spend here."

No doubt, few companies can afford such amenities. However, it seems to me that this is an area that larger companies should explore, particularly if their work force is comprised of busy two-income households. Benefits to the company could include happier employees, more hours on the job, and, potentially, an easier time of recruiting. I stop short of saying that large companies must provide such benefits. It makes sense to evaluate the costs of the amenities and weigh them against the benefit to the company and its employees.

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