In the course of researching this article, many of the owners and CEOs we talked with dismissed the topic. Others explained that they were principals in extremely small firms in which everyone is expected to give 'til it hurts. There are other issues, of course. Continuity Clients expect continuity in their representatives, and they can feel abandoned if a different staffer assists them every time they call, no matter how competent or helpful they may be. Hopkins' team gets around the continuity issue by addressing it head-on.
Most customers are pleased to know that their staffing firm puts tangible value on families.
Another reason why flex policies aren't always highly visible is that they are often implemented haphazardly, adds Jubeck. Often, flex arrangements begin when a company offers a compromise to an individual employee that it doesn't want to lose. As in many other areas, personality is also involved. It's easy to get mired down in old attitudes. Soll believes that he has a lot invested in his people, and he regards anything he can do to reduce turnover as a good thing.