Private four-year liberal arts school College of the Ozarks has a work force of 266 full-time and nine part-time staff. The college pays 100 percent of health insurance premiums for full-time staff, and all employees are eligible for bonuses. Tuition reimbursement is available for work-related study, and the school also invests in several hours of formal training for employees each year. Other benefits include on-site child care, inexpensive on-campus dining and free admission to the school’s athletic events. Scholarships and tuition assistance also are available for employees’ children.
How does your company foster employee loyalty? “The college’s mission is pervasively Christian, patriotic, and work-oriented, and we try to hire employees whose personal values mirror that mission. ... Prospective employees frequently cite the culture of the college as the reason they want to work here.”
Tell us about your firm’s team-building activities or events. “The college functions like a family. When it is time to get something done, we all chip in. But we also have time for fun and fellowship. Because of our family culture, we never have to say, ‘OK, now we’re going to have a team-building activity.’ We put on many unique public events, accomplished by teamwork, and even in our day-to-day work, we get things done through teamwork.”
How does your business support work-life balance for employees?“As a family-centric institution, the college fosters a workplace where employees are able to balance family needs with work. For example, during inclement winter weather when local schools close, Bonner Community Service students at the college provide ‘snow day’ care for children of employees. Throughout the year, events are held in which the entire family is encouraged to participate, such as the annual lighting of the campus Christmas tree at The Keeter Center, an annual fall picnic and the Honor America celebration.”
Has the economy made it difficult to award raises? How are employee efforts rewarded? “The economy did present challenges, especially during … 2008 and 2009. In spite of that, the college continued without interruption to provide raises and paid benefits to employees, thanks especially to the college’s conservative financial operation.”
What makes your company’s benefits offering stand out in the market?“Three things: our … 403(b) program, college-paid insurance and extra paid vacation.”
How does your company support employees’ desires to give back to the community?“The college participates locally in many ways, such as food drives, Operation Christmas Child, collecting Christmas gifts for needy children in the area, Camp Lookout and serving wintertime meals to the area homeless.”
What is the most celebrated benefit/perk among your staff?“Our 403(b), without a doubt. Employees contribute 5 percent of their salary, and the College double-matches that with 10 percent. So, employees’ retirement accounts are credited for 15 percent of their salaries, and the employee only contributes one dollar out of three. We have another perk which strongly supports employees’ family life. In addition to normal paid vacation time, the college closes for the whole week for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, allowing employees additional paid time off to spend these holidays with their families.”
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