By Greg Smith

In many industries today, jobs are going unfilled. It should go without saying, if you cannot attract and keep your workforce, then you must change what you are doing or face the consequences.

Take your pick.

Which type of place do you want to work at: one that is cold and gives you a sense no one cares, or one that makes you feel good and appreciated? Money and benefits are important, but studies show that in the long run, the work environment — the feeling they get when they come to work — is more important in retaining and motivating people.

People like a friendly place to work.

The friendly-factor does not require a large investment and expense, but it does require time and thoughtful consideration. Take for example a construction equipment dealership in Louisville, KY. Their turnover is almost nonexistent. This is quite an accomplishment in an industry facing massive talent shortages.

Their employees and service technicians share in a profit-sharing plan that could possibly mean $700,000 upon retirement. They are eligible to participate after one year and become fully vested after six years. No one has quit after becoming vested in this company. To further help his employees, the owner brings in a financial advisor to help the employees pick stocks, plan for retirement, or to get advice on buying a house or saving for a child’s college education.

Other friendly-factor benefits:

Here are a few other friendly-factor ideas to consider:

• Reward work attendance. Set in place a “Potential Earned Bonus Account” for each employee for a set amount, say $250 every six months. Every day an employee is late, but called in to tell you – they lose $10. For every day they are late and do not call in – they lose $15. Every day they are absent, but call in – they lose $25. Every day they are absent and do not call in – they lose $35. At the end of six months they get the balance of the $250.
• During your new employee orientation, make sure you send a welcome gift or letter to the family of the new employee welcoming them to the company. Assign the new employee a mentor to help them adjust to the new environment and make them feel part of the team. After their first 30 days on the job, have a new employee celebration and invite his or her family to attend.
• Be involved in the important aspects of your employees’ lives. You should respond when there is a birth, illness, death, graduation, or wedding. These are the important events where you have a golden opportunity to build a bond between the individual and the company.
• One company photographed each employee who had worked at the company over five years. Then they put the photos on a wall for all to see. This small act built a bond and showed the employees the pride their employer had in them.
• Have a “Bring children to work day.” A couple times a year, allow your employees to bring their kids and show them what they do.
• Creating a friendly-factor work environment takes time, and it takes managers who truly care about individuals.

About the Author

Greg Smith is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and business performance consultant. He has written numerous books and has been featured on television programs such as Bloomberg News, PBS television, and in publications including Business Week, Kiplingers, President and CEO, and the Christian Science Monitor. He is the President and “Captain of the Ship” of a management-consulting firm, Chart Your Course International, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Phone him at 770-860-9464. More articles available: http://www.chartcourse.com

Staff Report
colanews@scbiznews.com
Published July 29, 2015

Sea Pro Boats, which was originally founded in the Midlands and later acquired by another company, announced plans today to invest $5.5 million and open a new plant in Newberry County. The project is expected to create 238 jobs.

The company said it’s returning to the market with “The Next Wave” – a new line of bay boats and center console offshore fishing boats. The new line will feature seven models, which are expected to be introduced by the end of this summer.

Founded in 1987, Sea Pro Boats was purchased by Brunswick Corporation in 2005. In June 2008 as the Great Recession took hold, Brunswick sank the Sea Pro line and closed its Newberry County plant, putting some 175 South Carolinians out of work.

Recently, Jimmy Hancock, one of the original owners of Sea Pro, along with Tidewater Boats’ founder Preston Wrenn, decided to relaunch the company.

Sea Pro’s new headquarters and manufacturing operations will be housed in a 200,000-square-foot building on S.C. Highway 121 in Whitmire that once served as a textile plant. The facility was shuttered in January 2009 by Renfro Corp., idling 600 workers.

Expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2015, hiring is anticipated to begin in fall 2015.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be resurrecting Sea Pro Boats in Newberry County, and the outpouring of support from the town of Whitmire has been both humbling and heartwarming,” said Hancock and Wrenn.

The owners also praised the work Newberry County and the South Carolina Department of Commerce did “to help make this dream a reality.”

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a $100,000 Set Aside grant to Newberry County to assist with costs of acquisition and real property improvements. The council also approved job development credits related to the project.

“Newberry County has a strong history in boat manufacturing, so we all take special pride in this announcement,” said Henry Livingston, chairman of the Newberry County Council. “Combine that with home-grown entrepreneurs locating in a historic rural community like Whitmire, and it becomes even more special.”

Those interested in a job at Sea Pro should contact SC Works.