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Volume 1 Issue 2
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Department
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HR Answers
Landscaping Employee HR Tips
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ProGardenBiz Landscape & Garden Magazine for the Green Industry
Whether you are just starting your landscaping business or have been a professional in the Green Industry for many years, you will eventually have employees. Growing your business requires help and with that help, with employees, come HR responsibilities.
The field of HR, Human Resources is one of the most complex and demanding areas of any business. This column will bring you regular information, tips, ideas, and solutions that will make you a better human resource manager.
Creating Landscaping Employee Ownership Without Using Stock Options
Landscaping HR practitioners need not rely on Employee Stock Ownership Programs (ESOP) to create employee ownership. Nor must they rely solely on goal sharing incentive programs to create ownership.
Many organizations experiment with programs offering advantages of both ESOPs and goal sharing programs. One common aspect is the initial design process. Several key strategic issues are addressed during program design:
* Short- and long-term results to be achieved.
* Employee efforts and behaviors needed to achieve these results.
* Eligible participants.
* How the program complements and supports current compensation philosophy and strategy.
When creating an Employee Ownership Goal Share (EOGS) program, first define the program objectives. Objectives clarify why the program exists and what it should accomplish.
The ESOPs primarily provide an employee benefit directly related to the organization’s value expressed in stock value. Traditional goal sharing programs focus on improving specific unit performance. The EOGS’s objectives combine both. Eligible employees see an increased benefit based on organization financial success. Goals also focus on improving unit-based and organizationwide operational outcomes. Cash rewards are treated like stock.
One organization developed a program with “Performance Award” certificates issued annually. Exceeding annual margin targets funds the program. Allocation of awards is based on meeting or exceeding specific unit-based targets. Three levels of achievement are defined—minimal, target (expected), and optimum.
“Award” value is a percentage of incumbents’ base pay. Minimal achievement provides a 10 percent of base pay award. Target achievement provides 20 percent. Optimum achievement provides 30 percent.
| Defined:
Main Entry: landscape employee human resources (HR)
Function: noun plural
Date: 1975
: PERSONNEL 1a, 2 <director of human resources>
Second Entry: per·son·nel
Pronunciation: 'lan(d)-"skAp, "p&r-s&n-'el
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): land·scaped; land·scap·ing
Etymology: French, from German Personale, Personal, from Medieval Latin personale, from Late Latin, neuter of personalis personal
Date: 1837
1 a : a body of persons usually employed (as in an activity to modify or ornament (a natural landscape) by altering the plant cover, or in an organization) b personnel plural : PERSONS
2 : a division of an organization concerned with landscaping personnel
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A three-year “vesting” schedule is used. At award grant, certificates can be redeemed for one-third of original value. In year two, an additional third can be redeemed. In year three, the final third can be redeemed. Margin targets must be met in subsequent years in order for that year’s deferred payout to occur. Employees can use the award’s cash value to fund Section 125 spending accounts.
All units and departments establish objectives utilizing the “balanced scorecard” approach. The EOGS reinforces the improvement of department or unit outcomes focusing on quality, customer, financial, and human resources improvements. A specific goal related to each is established and given equal value.
Once primary circuit breaker funding targets are met, distribution is based on achievement of balanced scorecard goals. Unit and department-based objectives must be maintained at the threshold for the subsequent two years in order to obtain the deferred payout. Each missed scorecard goal reduces the deferred payment 20 percent.
This idea links employee actions closer to organizational strategic outcomes, creating a sense of ownership. With ownership comes organizational acceptance of employee involvement and empowerment.
Considering venturing into the world of employee partnership? Be prepared to address the dilemma of building morale while slowing down the decisionmaking process. An EOGS requires true employee involvement and empowerment, not just the appearance of such.
Note
* This article is brought to you by Astron Solutions, providers of consulting solutions for HR professionals. Visit their Web site at www.astronsolutions.com
For more HR Answers read previous installments of this column in our magazine archives.
If you have any questions, or comments, or need some advice, please write to us. Send us an email. Please include your name and address. We reserve the right to edit letters.
eMail: editor@progardenbiz.com
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