When I exit Chicago's Union Station every morning and follow my zigzag, go whichever way the traffic lights allow me to go route to work, I generally don't pay attention to other people's conversations. I try to mind my own business, and, oftentimes, I'll walk with a friend and talk sports or current events. When I'm alone, the headphones go on and the iPod shuffles on. It's zombie time walking to work if you know what I mean, and I don't even have any White Zombie tunes on my device—although maybe it's time to get More Human Than Human on there. But I digress.
There was a day in late August when neither happened. My friend wasn't on the train, and the battery was almost dead on my Nano. So, like it or not, I had no diversions. I try not to eavesdrop on others' conversations, but when the lady next to me told her friend, "They changed our benefits package," my ears perked up.
I automatically thought the worst. Perhaps this woman's health insurance costs were about to go up; maybe a high-deductible health plan with a health savings account was coming her way to replace her safe and comfortable PPO. Maybe the company was ending its profit-sharing plan. Maybe the dental plan was being extracted.
But enough guessing, I thought. To borrow a line that Julie Chen often says on the CBS show Big Brother, "Let's eavesdrop on the houseguests"—or in this case: complete strangers who unknowingly happen to be walking next to the copy desk chief of Workforce Management. Indeed, the next sentence that came out of the lady's mouth shocked me: "It was like Christmas."
Woah. Christmas? Stocking stuffers in August? Couldn't be!
Christmas doesn't come early for many folks in today's rough-and-tumble job market. Yes, my interest was piqued.
"They gave us an extra week's vacation," she continued. "The also gave us an extra personal day and an extra sick day."
Yowsa! She became so giddy that it was like she had hit the trifecta without even placing a bet.
What's the takeaway from all this? Simple. It doesn't take much to bring a little joy to workers' lives. With companies leaning on lean staffs to carry more weight in this melancholy marketplace, perhaps the best thing your company could do is offer a little early holiday spirit.
You know, surprise them with a thoughtful gift. Go ahead: Make their day.
Until then, I'm going to go check the pantry. Maybe someone left some cookies behind.
Workforce Management Online, September 2011 -- Register Now!
