The classes begin as straight up lectures and gradually move into a more participative, discussion group style. Once the training concludes, new employees evaluate the program and make suggestions on how it can be improved. In addition to the financial training during orientation, all employees at Web receive ongoing explanations of the financials. All employees review the same three page financial statement each month, and the entire staff meets to discuss it. By having employees from all different work areas explain the statement, these figures are given added credibility, and in the process, the company is going a step further in its educational efforts.
Employees have to really understand the material in order to explain it to their coworkers.
One of the most unusual events at Web, however, is the weekly reading group. For an hour each week, employees get together and discuss the same book. These purpose of these groups is to get employees to think about larger issues and encourage their personal development. The sessions also create unique bonds of trust, respect, and understanding between employees, and these bonds do not disappear when employees return to their regular work tasks and teams. Furthermore, the groups stimulate discussion about internal issues that employees may not feel comfortable discussing in less neutral settings.