WineJobs.com March 2024 HR Newsletter

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By Karen Wetzel | Editor

Benefits have become as important as salary in attracting and keeping good talent, particularly since the “Great Resignation” seen in 2021: An AFLAC study showed more than 60% of employees claim that benefits are extremely important to their employer’s loyalty and helps them lead more fulfilling lives. ?

An employee-focused benefits package is an investment in your human assets and can develop a high level of trust with your team. ?When employees are physically and emotionally healthy, they are more productive and less likely to look elsewhere for work, saving your organization time and resources needed to find, replace, and train a new hire. ?A solid benefits program delivers a positive impact on your employees in a way that builds strong bonds and loyalty.

?But which benefits are most valued? ?

As highlighted in a recent Forbes.com article, Remote, a global HR and payroll company, surveyed 10,000 full-time workers in the U.S. and Europe and asked which benefits they valued most. ?Here is what they said:

?? Flexible/Adjustable Work Schedules?

• Flexible work hours and remote workdays: When possible, allow employees with long commutes to flex their schedules; avoiding rush hour saves time and money. rush hour saves time and money. ?Flexible start times also reduce stress for parents who drop their kids at daycare or school.?
• Early exit Fridays: ?According to Gartner.com, 55% of North American organizations already offer this. Keep in mind that you’re competing with these companies for the best talent.
• Four-day work week: A Qualtries survey found that 72% of participants said they’d be willing to work longer on the days they did work for this benefit. ?Trio Media participated in a U.K. pilot program and found it to be extremely successful. ?CEO Claire Daniels said, “Productivity has remained high, with an increase in wellness for the team along with our business performing 44% better financially.”

? Retirement Plans/Pensions

Employees want a sense of security and retirement plans allow them to save for their future.

• ?This benefit becomes even more attractive when companies match some or all of the employee's investment. ?Julie Secviar, VP of HR at Far Niente Wine Estates tells us they match up to 4% of employees' investment and include annual profit sharing, which helps retain employees and motivates them to support the company in their role.
• Complete this package by offering retirement planning assistance from financial pros. Twenty-five percent of employees agree that one of their most desired benefits is a financial wellness benefit with access to unbiased counselors or training.?

?? Health Insurance Benefits

Basic medical insurance is a must-have but beyond that, here is what Forbes.com found:

• Family health insurance plans reduce patient wait times and access to special medical services and facilities.
• Healthcare cost reimbursement programs such as HSA and FSA plans are embraced by those who understand how, when, and why to participate, but employee education is key to their success.
• Dental insurance benefits contribute to employees’ overall health, and they are less likely to miss work. ?
• Mental health benefits are becoming common and, according to Fortune.com, 67% of workers say they are beneficial, especially Millennials, parents with children under 18, and remote workers. ??

Secviar tells us that Far Niente offers employees a choice of four different medical plans, including dental and vision care, to give employees choices that best address their personal needs. ?Some of their more unique and generous benefits they offer include:

• Disability and life insurance for all
• Annual volunteer day
• Online wellness program with on-demand counseling, tools, meditation, etc.
• Access to financial planners
• A Corporate Social Responsibility program that aligns with employee-driven philanthropy
• Wine discounts and holiday gifts
• And—my favorite—they just became a Blue Zone-approved worksite with an emphasis on physical health
• Here are a few other benefits to consider that add value and increase employee job satisfaction and retention:
• ?Employee referral bonus
• Continuing education/college tuition reimbursement for role-related classes
• “Suggestion Box” rewards for employees that share cost saving, profit generating or safety improving ideas that are implemented.
• Employee milestone awards: Kevin Corley, president of the Corley Company, Winery & Vineyard Management, acknowledges anniversary milestones as a way of celebrating his employees at company events. He says, “Bringing the crew together for meals is always appreciated, especially during busy periods like harvest…a culture that fosters camaraderie and collaboration among employees is beneficial and doesn’t need to be expensive.”
• Store or membership discounts?
• Stocked fridge and pantry
• Pet-friendly environment?
• Outside services that offer discounts on-site during lunch hours, breaks and before/after work

?Benefits can be expensive, and you must weigh the advantages against cost. Healthy, enthusiastic employees are hard to come by and simply offering great benefits won’t guarantee they will take advantage of them in a way that impacts productivity. ?You’ll need to be creative in supporting your employees so you both reap the benefits in the long run.

?Additional Resources:

• Child care benefits at work: Employers are increasingly offering resources to parents with daycare needs
• 6 ways employers are investing in compensation and benefits

Other Top Stories

Napa Valley Features: Napa Valley College Unveils New Wine Education Center Napa Valley College is set to commence construction this spring on the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility poised to revolutionize its acclaimed Viticulture and Winery Technology program. This ambitious project hopes to mark a new era in wine education, blending advanced technology with hands-on learning to cultivate the next generation of wine industry leaders.

HRDive: Employees Say They Want Moral Leadership From CEOs, Managers Moral leadership “has evolved from a worthy pursuit to a critical survival skill,” The HOW Institute for Society’s chairman and founder said.

WineBusiness News: Wine, Health, Dietary Guidelines, and Consumers There's positive news for wineries in the recent survey on consumer wine trends from Colangelo & Partners and Wine Opinions but there are red flags. ?It indicates consumers feel their wine consumption makes a modest but positive contribution to their overall health. ?But, two-thirds of consumers aged 21-39 said they would reduce consumption if the U.S. Dietary Guidelines were adjusted to include a recommendation of no more than two alcoholic drinks a week.

WineBusiness News: Sonoma County Vineyard Employees to Participate in Major Survey More than 1,000 local vineyard employees will be participating in a major survey in the coming weeks to identify key areas of need for workforce development, skills training, sustainability and more to identify and understand the challenges and needs of the vineyard employees today and in the future.

National Law Review: Managing Workplace Conflict: 3 Lessons to Learn from the Super Bowl Game Kelce-Reid Incident This high-profile episode serves as a powerful example for managers and supervisors across all industries, illustrating the challenges of dealing with insubordinate (and possibly disruptive) behavior in the workplace. If not for Coach Reid’s calm and collected response, this incident could have escalated into a far more unpleasant exchange.

The Salt Lake Tribune: Utah May Soon See More Liquor Licenses – and More Rules for Bars After years of Utah bar owners lining up for months to secure a scarce liquor license, the Utah Legislature may soon consider whether to loosen the rules that limit how many licenses the state issues.

CNN.com: Surging Restaurant Prices are Making Dining Out a Luxury It’s becoming increasingly cheaper for Americans to eat at home instead of dining out, according to January Consumer Price Index data. That’s because prices for groceries are up 1.2% year over year, while the price of food consumed at restaurants is up 5.1%. ?It’s another reminder of the sting inflation is having on Americans’ daily lives.?

North Bay Business Journal Business, Labor Fight Over California Law Few Know About Business and labor are gearing up to go head-to-head on Californians’ ballots again — this time over a consequential 20-year-old state labor law you’ve probably never heard of. Workers claiming labor law violations, such as wage theft, can ask the state Labor Commissioner’s Office to investigate, and either cite or sue the employer.

WSJ.com: American’s ESG Hiring Boom is Starting to Cool Companies have slowed hiring on environmental, social and corporate-governance positions as they focus on cost cutting and higher investment returns.

WineBusiness New:s First Woman Honored as Sonoma County’s Vineyard Employee of the Year Sonoma County’s wine community has a long, rich history of women winegrowers, winemakers, winery owners, executives and industry leaders. ?This past weekend, it has added to that legacy with the announcement by the Fundación de la Voz de los Vi?edos that it has chosen Yolanda Cruz, of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management (REVM), as Sonoma County’s Vineyard Employee of the Year.

North Bay Business Journal: Artificial Intelligence at the Forefront of North Bay Staffing Firm’s Survey Roughly one-third of respondents said they believe the technology could improve time management and productivity, facilitate automation, or generate better data analysis and insights. But fewer respondents felt AI could contribute to greater customer experiences, help with recruiting and hiring, or develop new business models.

?Upcoming Events

Eastern Winery Exposition + Conference March 12 - 14, 2024 Oncenter Convention Center | Syracuse, NY

bASH: ?Appellation St. Helena’s Wine & Food Pairing Competition March 23, 2024 CIA Greystone, St. Helena

Central Coast Insights March 26, 2024 Paso Robles Event Center ?

?WiVi Central Coast March 27, 2024 Paso Robles Event Center?

U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit April 30 to May 1, 2024 Lodi, CA

CIA Wine & Beverage Summit: ?Business Savvy for the Wine Professional May 5 - 7, 2024 The CIA at Copia, Napa

41st Annual Food & Wine Classic June 14 - 16, 2024 Aspen, CO

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