Employees pick best workplaces in Nevada in second annual vote

Judging by the batch of nominations in our latest Best Workplaces in Nevada contest, it's getting scary out there.

This year's call for submissions turned in 70 applications -- just half the number of nominations we received in 2009. Plus, some heavy favorites that fielded bumper crops of nominations a year ago didn't receive a single shout-out this year, including Henderson Internet retailer Zappos.com, which has earned workplace kudos from some big national publications, and MGM Resorts International, the area's largest private-sector employer. In fact, there were very few repeats at all from a year ago, even among small businesses.

The different nominating climate could result from slumping wages and benefits, as companies struggling to stay alive amid a sustained economic downturn enforce pay cuts, freeze matching of retirement contributions and mandate unpaid time off.

But that erosion in perks has come with changing employee attitudes about the office environment.

More than any benefit or bonus, today's recession-battered workers want job security, said Mary Beth Hartleb, chief executive officer of Prism HR Consulting and Insurance in Henderson.

"People are willing to make a lot of sacrifices in pay and benefits as long as they still have employment," Hartleb said. "I'm not saying employees are happy (about compensation cuts), but they're in survival mode. As long as companies can keep employees working, those employees understand if companies need to cut."

Despite the shortage of applications, there's no local dearth of great ideas on how to keep employees happy.

This year's crop of nominees reported perks ranging from the opportunity to play in orchestras for artists such as Beyonce and Andrea Bocelli (Violin Outlet) to paying for Dale Carnegie training and arranging paintball outings (NetEffect).

But unlike last year, the most popular benefits in 2010 appear to be old standbys such as health insurance and retirement-savings programs.

Last year's nominators praised their employers for fun extras such as holiday parties, dinners out and tickets to local shows.

This year, many employees cited traditional benefits as the perks they liked best.

That's because the recession has forced everyone to "go back to the basics," Hartleb said.

Employers say they see similar employee-feedback trends in their businesses these days, with old-fashioned benefits receiving the greatest positive response from workers.

Landmark Media Enterprises, which owns KLAS-TV/8NewsNow, had to switch out providers on its health-insurance plan this year, but the company maintained the 75 percent share of employee health costs it was paying before the transition. The company also continues to match employee contributions to its 401(k) plan.

"We've had good comments on the health insurance and 401(k) from employees," KLAS-TV/8NewsNow General Manager Emily Neilson said. "The cost we pay is still a huge benefit for employees. When people look at what's happening in their partner's or spouse's company, they see that."

Employees also laud the increasing health and wellness benefits at Frias Transportation Management, which instituted a richer health benefit a few years ago as part of its collective-bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers Local 711A union its drivers belong to. In the taxicab business, such benefits are rare, said Frias Chief Operating Officer John Hickman, and the coverage is giving the business a major edge in recruiting new workers.

That doesn't mean companies should eschew intangibles or abandon smaller tokens of appreciation.

Business owners and managers should remember that economies run in cycles, and today's recession will transform into tomorrow's expansion.

"Employees are going to remember tomorrow, when the job market improves, how they were treated today," Hartleb said. "When you're fostering loyalty and building morale for retention purposes, it's important to be creative and find ways to keep your work force productive."

Don't assume you need the heft and buying power of a major corporation to furnish smaller perks. One of this year's winners, law firm Bailey Kennedy, has just 31 employees, but it offers so many goodies that it almost won our overall award.

At KLAS-TV/8NewsNow, there's a $500 limit on its popular Gr8Days events, which consist of companywide parties held every other month.

Besides, the best office motivators are free.

Said Hartleb: "You don't have to spend money to make your office a great place to work. It starts at the top with a good attitude, consistency and ethical behavior among upper management. Those things will trickle down to the rest of the group as they work together as a team. And appreciating the sacrifices everyone is making goes a long way right now."

Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison
@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512.