2013 Choice Employers, 101 to 300 Employees No. 1: Commerce Bank

Kansas City-based Commerce Bank (Nasdaq: CBSH) employs 240 at seven branches within a 50-mile radius of Springfield. The bank offers no waiting period on 401(k) plans with an automatic company contribution of 16 percent or more of the employee’s annual salary. The company also matches 50 to 100 percent of employee contributions up to the first 7 percent. The company pays 51 to 75 percent of health insurance premiums for full-time employees and offers 15 to 19 paid days off to all employees. More than six weeks of paid paternity and maternity leave also is offered to staff.

Editor’s note: Answers provided by spokeswoman Nikki Hampton.

What innovative ways have you developed to reward employees?
“The top requests from employees is to give additional time off work to support flexibility in managing professional and personal obligations. Commerce provides time off work through vacation and personal time and the opportunity to receive extra days off through fundraising initiatives, along with the option to donate money to a community fundraiser in exchange for wearing jeans. The ability to be awarded extra days off are also provided through various sales initiatives. Reward and recognition go together and are exemplified through annual employee awards, fraud incentive plans, lunches with senior management, a gift card program, service anniversary awards and features in online newsletters. Additionally, employees are rewarded and recognized both locally and across the company through calls, meetings, online newsletter features and various awards in sales, community involvement, suggestion campaigns and more.”

What methods does the company have in place to solicit employee input?
“Commerce uses a program called I-Suggest, an online suggestion tool which provides employees the access to submit suggestions at any time. Local management solicits employee suggestions during Food for Thought lunches and team meetings on a weekly basis; along with various focus groups, test groups, exit interviews and stay interviews with tenured employees.

Commerce also conducts an annual employee opinion survey which provides feedback on a range of topics.”

How does your company support employees’ desires to give back to the community?
“Commerce supports the United Way organizations that serve in our communities both at the corporate level and through employee giving programs. Employees are provided paid time to participate in community events and fundraisers, along with supporting various employee fundraisers for Relay For Life, Boys and Girls Club and more during business hours. Commerce will provide corporate sponsorships and often match employee donations. Blood drives, community festivals and runs for health organizations and food drives are but a few of the activities in which our employees are actively engaged.

In all of our markets, active involvement of our employees in supporting community needs is the norm, and volunteer projects serve as team-building activities for Commerce employees, as well.”[[In-content Ad]]