I'd Love to be a Badger

In class, we talked about the benefits of employees with a positive affective commitment to their organization. Badger Mining Corporation is based out of Wisconsin and specializes in industrial sand. Probably isn't the most interesting field to be in, but this company knows how to show their employees some love! In an article found on CNNMONEY talks about the company's commitment to "treating people right." Some benefits of being an employee of Badger include; 20% profit sharing, 100% health insurance premium coverage, and partly cover the costs of hiring a financial planner. The company also gives employees... or associates as the bosses (coaches) refer to them as, part ownership in the company. What's surprising to me is the fact that the company only has 170 employees.

Most small businesses can barely afford a healthcare package for their employees, yet alone sharing 1/5th of their profit. I guess it helps that the company is the 5th largest industrial sand company. But what I think really justifies the royal treatment is the flatter organizational structure. Associates work in more demanding, self-directed team with less interaction and feedback between them and their coaches. The article notes the need to allow new employees more time to adapt to this type of work environment. Some people simply prefer more structure, that poses as a weak person-environment fit @ Badger. According to the President, Tim Wuest, initially the benefits were a pretty big investment but it has paid-off in the past two decades. It'd be interesting to see what their turnover costs would be. I wonder what their turnover rate actually is, my guess would be <1%.

Makes you wonder if a small company like Badger can avoid to "spoil" their employees why can't the rest of them? It can be as simple as being flexible but I feel like all profiting businesses should attempt to share the wealth. If you ask me, I'd probably reward my employees with gift cards or tickets to sporting events. Why? Because it's more affordable, especially as a small business owner. And honestly, would you be upset if presented a mini shopping-spree to a (reasonable)place. Back to Badger, I like what they've done, you can't encourage and promote organizational citizenship behavior much better than they do.

-Sunny