The winners of the Best Companies to Work For competition are a testament that no matter what is going on in the economy or the world, a strong culture is foundational to surviving tough times. Taking care of your employees in good times means they will have your back when a crisis occurs.
#12 Granite State Credit Union
Financial products and services
CEO: Denise Barstow
Years in Business: 75
Full-Time Employees: 125
Part-time/Temporary or Seasonal Employees: 26 (Benefits offered)
Years on List: 3
Address: 1415 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101
Website: gscu.org
Top Employee Engagement Survey Measures:
I am encouraged to learn and develop new skills: 98% agree
The mission and purpose of my organization makes me feel that my job is important: 98% agree
It’s not always what you get, it can be about what you give. Granite State Credit Union offers pay-it-forward initiatives that allow employees to go out in the community to commit random acts of kindness from giving away hot dogs or ice cream at Little League games to handing out treats at a dog park to picking up tabs at nearby diners. That’s in addition to the eight paid volunteer hours employees receive annually.
This credit union’s “Values In Motion” campaign encourages employees to submit examples from their work day that reflect the current month’s value (passion, integrity, respect, commitment, innovation, accountability), which are shared with colleagues on the company’s intranet. Employees are then entered into a monthly raffle for each submission.
Granite State Credit Union holds a variety of appreciation days that include catered lunches, hourly raffles, a prize wheel and games to liven up the work day. Other appreciation programs include “Cheers for Peers,” which allows co-workers to send a thank you or recognize another employee. When someone receives a “Cheer,” they also receive a token that can be accrued toward prizes such as gift cards, grab basket prizes or a half day off with pay. Managers also give out “Appreciation Packs” with a card, candy and a $5 Dunkin’ gift card when employees go above and beyond.
The credit union has a policy to approve any vacation requests when possible. And managers are required to send HR and the CEO an email if they ever have to say no to an employee’s vacation request, explaining why.