Local businesses keep employees happy with wide range of perks

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Staff Photo by Jim Witmer CareSource employees take a lunch-hour class called "Fab Abs" at their in-house gym.

From free trips to in-house gyms, top area employers promote work/life balance.

By Jacqui Boyle, Staff Writer Updated 12:11 PM Friday, January 27, 2012

Companies in the Dayton area work to keep their employees happy, offering benefit packages that include health and disability insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, and paid vacation and holidays. Some businesses take it a step further, showering their staff with luncheons, treats in the break room, and free trips to sporting events and amusement parks.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery’s staff members receive a complimentary museum membership, offering free or reduced admissions to more than 300 reciprocal institutions around the country. Monthly meetings at the museum acknowledge birthdays and special accomplishments, and frequent all-staff luncheons support interdepartmental socializing. The staff also has the opportunity to host free after-hours events at the museum, inviting family members to join them there for weddings, baby showers and birthday parties.

Diane Farrell, vice president of external relations for the museum, said nearly every employee during the course of the year takes advantage of the opportunity to use the space for events, which even include memorial services.

“I think because people feel so happy here and feel such a connection that they’re proud to bring their friends and families to these events,” she said. “It’s a great benefit.”

Kelly O’Connor is the president-elect of Miami Valley Human Resources Association and a communications consultant at Write on Target Inc., a Dayton-based company that translates complex benefits and human resources information into “easy-to-understand-and-use” materials for clients.

“From an employer’s perspective, a competitive benefits package enables them to attract and retain talent,” O’Connor said. “From an employee’s perspective, benefits are expected. However, from our experience, many employees undervalue their benefits package because they don’t know how to access and use their benefits.”

From baseball games to wellness programs to hummus, here are some top perks offered by area businesses.

Employee appreciation

Some local companies go the extra mile in promoting work/life balance, offering their employees event tickets and opportunities to travel.

Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz LPA offers tickets to Dayton Dragon’s games and concerts at the Fraze Pavillion.

“The partners love recognizing employees for their hard work and passion for helping people,” the company said. “They plan several parties a year where prizes are awarded and every other year, the firm organizes a trip at no cost to employees.”

Grafton Oaks Nursing Center hosts an annual holiday party every year for employees and spouses that includes a catered event and open bar; up to four prizes and $500 in cash are given out at the event. The company also tries to have an annual summer trip for employees and family to Kings Island, when funds allow, that includes an all-day pass and a company lunch.

All employees at Infoscitex Corp. in November 2010 were invited to Puerto Rico for a two-night celebration of the company’s 10th anniversary and a community service event. The business in August 2011 invited employees to Baltimore, Md., for a baseball game and company update.

Innovative Technologies Corp. provides company-sponsored activities for employees, such as tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game, and to La Comedia Dinner Theatre in Springboro for Christmas.

Peerless Technologies Corp. hosts or sponsors several employee events during the year, including a recent family event during the summer at Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, that included a meal, prizes and ice cream, and all of Young’s activities; a cookout and corn hole tournament, an ice cream social, an after-work happy hour, a pancake breakfast, a chili cook-off and a “taco fiesta.”

VRI recently hosted its annual company picnic at its headquarters in Franklin. A total of 190 employees and their family members enjoyed a cookout and circus entertainment, including a circus workshop, aerial acrobats, inflatables, carnival games and more.

On-site fitness centers

CareSource offers employees an on-site fitness center and wellness program. The nonprofit company, which works to meet the needs of underserved health care consumers, wants employees to “walk the talk” in regard to their own health, said Dr. Gail Croall, senior medical director for the company. More than 100 of the approximately 900 employees working in CareSource’s building on Wednesday, Jan. 11, attended an open house at the fitness center to participate in yoga, kickboxing and hula hooping activities.

“We want to create a strong culture of health here at CareSource,” she said.

Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. provides employees with free memberships to its on-site gym, too.

At Miami Valley Steel Services, staff members can take advantage of a wellness program with a fitness room and a personal trainer on call.

Hospice of Dayton provides wellness health programs and initiatives at no cost including on-site Zumba, safety, and healthy cooking classes, and a free consultation with a certified fitness adviser.

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