While foregoing salary increases for the seventh straight year, Detroit ad agency Sommers-Worth is taking steps to ensure all employees are adequately compensated. As of April 1, the company’s executive committee authorized the purchase of tip jars for all staff members to place on their desks, or elsewhere in their work areas.
“It’s our way of showing our team we care about their well being,” says Myrna Tallmadge, VP of Human Resources. “If a person is doing a good job, we’re happy to provide and opportunity to reap the rewards.”
For the most part, employees are reacting positively to the initiative.
“I get up to a quarter a page for every copy I run off,” says administrative assistant Tom Portnoy. “That comes in pretty handy when you have college loans to pay off.”
“Who would have thought I’d see an extra $3.50 to $3.75 a day just for doing my job?” asks Gina Pizerelli, a research pre-analyst. “Last Thursday I turned in a report on pepperoni preferences and 20 minutes later there was $1.75 in my jar!”
In addition to improving morale, says Tallmadge, the tip jars are also helping increase productivity.
“When someone throws you a buck for every idea you brainstorm,” she says, “I think you tend to become a better brainstormer.”
According to Tallmadge, 36 out of 39 employees are participating in the program. Last week she even earned a respectable $6.45 herself, she says, for updating the company’s A-44(c) Report.
