[Advanced] Blending Work and Play (2)

Taking care of its employees
Through the years, Plantronics in Tijuana has moved far beyond an assembly plant. It now has a 110-person design and engineering center and testing lab that has earned four U.S. patents for its work.

Whether engineers or on the assembly line, all employees are encouraged to suggest ways to improve productivity, winning tickets to sporting events or even better parking spaces for their tips. It’s paid off. The company says it’s saved over $100 million through improvements suggested by employees.

“The company has to make a profit, but we try to make it a gratifying place to work,” said Cesar Lopez, director of government regulations at the plant.

In turn, employee-led teams decide what institutions – such as orphanages, the Red Cross and police and fire departments _ the company should support as part of its practice of improving Tijuana and helping the community. Employees volunteer to take orphans to movies, sports events and on camping trips.

The company has 188 well-being programs for employees and families, touching on fitness, weight loss, study habits, good parenting and community service. Workstations are scattered about the assembly hall floor where workers can peruse job openings and learn how to gain skills for new jobs. “Every employee can see how they can advance in the company,” said Diana Alvarado, head of the plant’s human resources department.

Workstations are scattered about the assembly hall floor where workers can peruse job openings and learn how to gain skills for new jobs.

“Every employee can see how they can advance in the company,” said Diana Alvarado, head of the plant’s human resources department.

A reason to work
Inculcating a sense of mission in employees is part of the company ethic.

Employees grasp that lives rely on the headsets they design and assemble, he said.

“We know our headsets have to be depended on, whether it is someone working at a 911 station dispatching fire, police or emergency medical, or someone from the moon,” Kannappan said, noting that Neil Armstrong used a Plantronics headset when he set foot on the moon in 1969.

The benefits that make for a happy workplace make hiring easy.

“A few months ago, we were asking for 75 people that we needed to hire, and we got over 1,000 people,” said Bustamante, [senior vice president of operations].



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