Employees Thrive in Cincinnati Inc.’s Award-Winning Work Environment
Cincinnati Inc. has always had an excellent reputation for being a great place to work. Some of the people in our facility are multi-generation CI employees. What creates that kind of loyalty and, at the same time, brings new applicants to our door? We asked Donna Szarwark, Vice President of Human Resources, what it takes to build a culture of engagement that makes CI an employer of choice.
The Employee Experience
According to Donna, “With every company, there is a culture of engagement – a set of interconnected human, organizational and environmental factors – that together shape the employee experience at work. Our goal is to align CI’s business and talent strategy to the company’s core values and, by doing so, continue our founders’ vision. We want to unlock employee potential and create a culture where people can bring their heart, spirt, hands and minds to work and thrive. We started by analyzing every aspect of the employee experience journey from hire to retire, where each significant event and interaction is a touchpoint or important moment. The overall journey is an accumulation of all the touchpoints over time. Then we worked on reimagining and crafting the employee experience from how we recruit, onboard and communicate. Part of this exercise was developing a cultural roadmap to prioritize initiatives that help us to align, focus, execute and measure our results.”
The OWN IT roadmap
One vital aspect of the guideline is called OWN IT. Outside the CI walls, the phrase is used to motivate customers to stand behind the work they do. And inside CI, a similar call has emerged.
“OWN IT is all about accountability,” Donna said. “So, we look at the behaviors that reflect a willingness to accept responsibility. These are what really move the company forward. The flip side of this is to identify the things we’re doing that detract from that. And from there you have a map. It gets everybody on the same page.”
Group picture taken on Veterans Day 2021. The employees in blue represent our veterans at the plant.
Managing the Environment
Engagement at CI comes from the top down. “We have a lot of smart people in management who work hard to create a setting that fosters a sense of teamwork and collaboration,” Donna said. “That kind of environment really appeals to potential employees.”
Like everything at CI, the workplace experience is subject to continuous improvement. “When you’re growing as fast as we are, it’s important to have all your processes and beliefs in place. There’s always a lot to work on.”
Positive Feedback
While the process continues, Donna is gratified by the reactions and feedback from publications and groups in the manufacturing marketplace. “Having an outstanding workforce is its own reward,” she said. “But, in addition, we have been recognized by three different organizations for the quality of our workplace.”
Best and Brightest
The National Association for Business Resources has named CI to their 2021 List of Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® competition identifies and honors companies that deliver exceptional human resource practices and an impressive commitment to their employees. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more. The NABR’s mission is: Better Business. Richer Lives. Stronger Communities.
2021 Best Workplaces in Ohio
For the 4th time in as many years, CI has been named as one of the Best Workplaces in Ohio by Ohio Business Magazine. Nomination forms were sent to businesses throughout the state with questions on issues such as engagement with employees and benefit structure. The winners were then selected by committee. According to the magazine, “Business leaders carry a mission to create profit. However, many companies featured here have figured out how to accomplish this while carrying the torch of growth and giving all in their organization a place at the table.”
Veterans Gold Medallion Award
Honoring all who served. For the third year in a row, CI has been awarded the Veteran’s Gold Medallion Award from the Department of Labor. The award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes a company’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development. CI was cited for our percentage of veteran employees (23%), plus the leadership and promotional opportunities we offer.
Good for People and Business
“We’re proud of our employee engagement programs and these awards provide independent confirmation that we’re on the right track,” Donna said. “Not only is this course of action the right thing to do, but it is vital to the business side as well. When people seek you out, it’s a lot easier to address any labor issues.”
If CI sounds like the workplace you’ve been looking for, consider joining our team. Check out our employment opportunities.
