These are just a few of the many practices developed by Eddie Bauer in response to its associates' preferences. Five years ago, when the company decided to aim for being an employer of choice, management held focus group sessions with associates to get their input. What became clear was that juggling work and nonwork activities was a struggle for a large portion of the workforce. President Rick Fersch responded to employees' concerns by giving his full support to creating change quickly and with as little red tape as possible. Management believes that these benefits pay for themselves because many of them result in lower health-care costs. In addition, the programs enable associates to be more focused and productive at work because they know that they'll have the resources they need to manage their personal needs.
To learn more about Eddie Bauer, visit the company's home page at
www.eddiebauer.com