Benefits at Stylecraft
Communication is better at Stylecraft since the company conducted an employee survey last fall. CIRAS agent Don Hendricks was contacted by Jim O'Neill, Human Resources Manager at the Milford, lows, manufacturer of upholstered furniture. "Don made it very easy. He helped develop the survey and compiled the results," O'Neill said.

The survey queried all employees about their perceptions of working conditions, pay, benefits, and other issues, including communication. "We're disseminating more information now because the survey told us that's what employees want," O'Neill said.

"The survey reinforced some things we thought were true, but there were some surprises, too," he added.

Some of the surprises were less than positive. "The negatives hurt, but we have to own up to them and do what we can to improve them."

O'Neill said the survey provided "a great tool to use as a measuring stick. It told us how employees felt at a moment in time. It took out things that tend to cloud the issues and gave us a picture of the workplace as employees view it."

The 1,000 employees appreciated the opportunity to give their opinions. More than 90 percent of them strongly agreed with the last item on the survey: "I'm glad the company is doing this survey to find out what I think."

CIRAS News, Vol. 31, No. 4, Summer1997

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