Medium For-Profit category
The Comporium Group
Multiple Channels of Communication
South Carolina — The Comporium Group’s telecommunications services have enhanced the quality of life for its residential and commercial customers, and its support of a variety of civic and non-profit organizations has contributed to the communities in which it is located. Along with its investment in the community, this family-owned group of companies places great emphasis on the health and well-being of its employees.
Click here to watch a video clip about the Comporium Group.
Employee Involvement
The two-way flow of communication at Comporium has yielded a true team-oriented culture that affords every employee the opportunity to contribute to the organization. From the ability to email suggestions, concerns and feedback directly to Comporium’s president via the company’s intranet homepage, to the “Pipeline,” a joint employee-management committee that evaluates ideas for new products and services, every comment and suggestion receives thorough consideration and a personalized follow-up. Employees are also invited to participate in community relations activities and to serve on one of Comporium’s many committees that address operational issues, customer satisfaction and workplace safety.
Health and Safety
Employee health and safety are a priority for Comporium, with safety programs and training that exceed OSHA requirements and include thorough assessment, training, investigation and prevention efforts. Comporium offers employees a wide variety of health and wellness programs, including health fairs, team sports, weight management groups, flu shots and “lunch-and-learn” sessions on a variety of health topics. In 2005, the company added “Wellness Works” to its existing health and wellness programs. This intensive program includes individual meetings with a nurse for a health and fitness evaluation and informational resources related to healthy lifestyle and behavior choices and disease prevention. Health insurance benefits include low deductible and co-pay amounts and coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Employee Growth and Development
At Comporium, training and development begins with a comprehensive orientation and continues with opportunities for growth throughout the employee’s career. A Personal Growth Plan ensures that employees fully utilize their skills and helps identify opportunities for further growth. Comporium’s Human Resources Review System Committee meets regularly to address issues including leadership succession planning, and identification and development of high-potential employees. Additionally, Comporium maintains an HR resource library available to employees interested in additional training, conducts quarterly supervisor trainings and provides tuition assistance to employees.
Work-Life Balance
The supportive atmosphere of Comporium extends beyond employees to their families as well. Family members are welcomed at holiday parties and company picnics and have access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, including emotional, legal and financial counseling, parenting and elder care resources and college assistance. Paid Time Off at Comporium can be used in 15-minute increments for employees to attend to family needs such as medical appointments and school conferences, and upon approval, the company provides flexible scheduling and leave benefits beyond FMLA requirements.
Employee Recognition
A multifaceted internal communications program helps Comporium’s management stay connected with its employees and recognize individual and group accomplishments. The weekly publication Links regularly honors employees for providing outstanding service to customers, co-workers, and the community. The Connector, Comporium’s bimonthly publication, features “Focus on the Fabulous,” a forum where employees can recognize their co-workers for extraordinary work. Another feature, “Thanks for Our Service,” relays positive comments received from customers. Personal and professional news and milestones are also included in the publication. Service awards are also presented at an annual holiday party with employee highlights incorporated into a video that has become the centerpiece of the event.
The Bottom Line
Comporium’s emphasis on promoting employee health and well-being has created an environment that feels more like a family unit than a workplace. Employees report high levels of satisfaction with HR services, benefits and workplace safety. Additionally, as a result of Comporium’s wellness initiatives, health insurance premiums have increased only 14 percent over the past three years, compared to a 36-percent increase in medical costs during the same period. Comporium’s safety efforts have helped the company achieve an OSHA Recordable Incidence Rate that falls below industry average for South Carolina. The company’s stellar safety record translates to lower insurance premiums. Comporium has received safety awards from the South Carolina Occupational Safety Council and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
Comporium and its employees have benefited in other ways as well. The average Comporium employee has been with the company for 10 years, and voluntary employee turnover is a low 2.3 percent. Despite large fluctuations in both the telecommunications industry and the regional economy in recent years, Comporium has never had a layoff. These factors have helped Comporium preserve the continuity of both its services and its culture, sending a welcome message of trust and commitment to its employees, customers and community.