Innovative Benefit Programs: Workers’ Credit Union, Fitchburg
PHOTO/MATT PILON
“When I'm interviewing someone and telling them about the credit union, I think it's one of the items
I consistently receive a response
of 'Really?' or 'Wow!'”
Nancy Seguin, Assistant VP of Human Resources,
Workers' Credit Union
It's no surprise to any boss when an employee takes a vacation day to celebrate a birthday.
But at Fitchburg-based Workers' Credit Union, there's no need. Every employee gets his or her birthday as a paid day off.
“There's 100 percent participation in that [benefit],” said Nancy Seguin, assistant vice president of human resources.
Jack Doolin, vice president of human resources, said the credit union's “birthdays off” policy had been around well before he began working there in 1998.
“It's frankly the kind of legacy benefit that's nice to have,” Doolin said. “There's no talk of getting rid of it. But if you started a company today, would you offer it? You probably wouldn't.”
“It's just a little gift,” Seguin added.
But little gifts can add up. Take movie night, for example.
Once a quarter, Workers' will rent an entire theater two miles down the road at CinemaWorld. Employees from its 15 branches, which range from northern Central Massachusetts to the Interstate-495 belt communities of Chelmsford and Acton, have a chance to gather in one place and enjoy a movie.
“It's really different to walk into the theater and you know everyone,” Seguin said.
Some bring their children or spouses. If there's room, friends can come along.
The movie is always family friendly, though managers have surveyed employees to gauge interest in a “date night” film. Many appreciate being able to bring their children somewhere for free without having to hire a sitter for the night, Seguin said.
Workers' also holds an annual employee appreciation luncheon for workers who have reached their five-, 10- and 15-year anniversary marks or beyond. And there are plenty who have been with the company longer, Seguin said.
The credit union will also trade employees up to two days of paid time off for community or charity work done in their off time. Popular among employees are the Greater Gardner Relay For Life fundraiser, for which the Workers' team has raised more than $102,000 in the past five years, as well as Girl Scouts and other organizations.
“It's not huge, but when you add up these somewhat little types of things, I think as a collective it just speaks to our culture and what we want to offer to employees,” Seguin said. “When I'm interviewing someone and telling them about the credit union (benefits) ... I consistently receive a response of 'Really?' or 'Wow!'”
And even employees who end up leaving the company because they're unhappy with their jobs consistently rate company benefits highly in exit interviews, Doolin said.
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