CEOs provide flexible schedules, and sometimes more, for staff

By Herald staff

November 6, 2020 6:00 AM

CEOs were asked: Some companies are offering new perks to their employees, like paying some or all phone bills or even covering mental health services. What new benefits have you added? mdworschak Getty Images/iStockphoto

The most significant benefits we have offered employees is the opportunity to work from home, including providing the requisite technical equipment and support for those employees to perform their jobs. Our employees have utilized these benefits and continued to deliver top-shelf work products for our clients.

Luis Flores, managing partner, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Miami office

We have not provided any additional perks or benefits. We are still allowing team members the flexibility to work from home. We are unable to visit our customers at their locations, and we do not allow walk ups in our showroom. The lack of customer engagement will not return until the fourth quarter therefore working from home seems to have had a positive impact with increased employee productivity on new company initiatives.

Darryl Holsendolph, president, CEO of Holsen Inc. Merchandising

Power Financial Credit Union had its first COVID-19-related meeting on Feb. 27 to put our annual Board-approved Pandemic Policy into motion. We have had this policy to address a pandemic for several years. Shortly after that meeting, we put $500 extra in every team member’s paycheck to assist them in their effort to “stock up” for stay-at-home orders. We have also provided an excellent employee assistance plan for many years as part of the compensation package. This is an important option as we all deal with the challenges the pandemic introduces. Furthermore, we did not have any furloughs, layoffs, salary reductions, hours cut, etc. As CEO, I pledged that with so much disruption already in the lives of our team members and their families, we would endeavor to make sure their paycheck was not another thing that kept them up at night. We have such an amazing team that is dedicated, committed, and high performing, day in and day out, they needed to know they could rely on their organization to do the same for them at a time of crisis.

Allan Prindle, president, CEO, Power Financial Credit Union

We have always had mental health services and a life-line for support. I think the greatest perk YWCA South Florida has been able to offer is flexibility. In a direct-service environment, it’s been beneficial to work hand-in-hand with our team to ensure they’re able to take care of themselves and their families, re-work typical job functions and, at the same time, continue to maintain employment to the level that we could secure.

Kerry-Ann Royes, CEO, YWCA South Florida

I have given raises to my employees.

Mindy Solomon, owner, director, Mindy Solomon Gallery

We have not been in a position to add to our benefits due to current financial constraints, but we have accommodated many staff with flexible schedules and equipment set-up for working from home and dealing with childcare/virtual school programs.

Frank Steslow, president, CEO, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

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THE MIAMI HERALD CEO ROUNDTABLE IS A WEEKLY FEATURE THAT APPEARS IN BUSINESS MONDAY OF THE MIAMI HERALD. RECENT QUESTIONS TO THE ROUNDTABLE HAVE INCLUDED:

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