Cover Story
By Frank Whitman

On the following pages, Guam Business offers the results of its annual Best Companies to Work For survey. This year, 13 Guam companies had the confidence and pride to participate in this comprehensive survey of worker satisfaction. The surveys were completed anonymously online. Two surveys were offered, one for management and one for non-management personnel, depending on how the employees identified themselves.
The management survey consisted of 24 statements to which respondents could choose to respond “Strongly Agree,” “Agree,” “Partly Agree/Disagree,” “Disagree,” “Strongly Disagree,” or “No Opinion/Don’t Know.” The non-managerial survey contained 30 such statements along with two open-ended questions. The managerial survey included three open-ended questions.
We consider ourselves fortunate to have the expert assistance of Richard Colfax, professor of human resource management at the University of Guam. He is also the senior consultant of Colfax Inc., the group that performed the data analysis and survey work. In order to avoid even the possibility of bias in the analysis, the companies were identified only by number, to which the Colfax group had no access. We were also assisted and advised by longtime Guam HR professional, Karri Perez, president of EPS Resources Group and also a UOG instructor. Both were knowledgeable, professional and efficient.
As indicated on the results table, the questions were grouped according to the aspect of workplace morale to which they pertained. While a few of the questions concerned wages and benefits — for example, “Overall, I think I am paid fairly compared with people in other companies who hold similar jobs,” and “I am satisfied with my health/medical plan.” — our interest is in the less tangible, but arguably more important, factors that contribute to worker retention.
A typical question from the “Attraction and Retention” category is “I would prefer to remain with my company even if a comparable job were available in another company.” In the “Organizational Communication” category respondents rated their agreement with “I have easy access to technologies for communicating across the company (for example: e-mail or Intranet).”
Non-managerial employees were asked to respond to the open-ended question, “What specific things about your company make it great?” The most common response was “family atmosphere” or a similar sentiment, and many mentioned salary and benefits. Others included:
“My company does a good job of providing the training I’ve needed to do my job well.”
“Perks are great! Employees lock arms in times of personal struggle. Of course, humor is always there to balance the work load!”
“Hourly pay and incentives. Looks at employees by strength.”
“Christmas dinners and our superintendent.”
“Goal to be the best on island.”
“Personnel, pay, flexible schedule.”
“The involvement of the higher management … the recognition that the company gives employees. And most important, is the trust that the company [gives] to employees and customers.”
“The flexibility, family-oriented atmosphere, good pay and most of all the benefits (free medical and dental, annual off-island trips, gas reimbursement, and Christmas Bonuses).”
“Provide outstanding company benefit and job related training for work improvement and knowledge for assigned job and responsibilities.”
“We have the greatest teamwork. Thanks to our wonderful team leaders.”
“The company focus on integrity, client and teamwork.”
“Managers who care about their employees.”
Employees were also asked, “What about your company would you like to improve?” Interestingly, the most common answer was “nothing.” A number mentioned pay and/or benefits, one with the additional comment, “Some of us deserve a pay raise!” A surprising number indicated that they would like the opportunity to be more productive or for the company to be more successful. Answers included:
“Employee and management communication.”
“In a perfect world, I would always get the tools and equipment I need to truly complete my job with the best result possible. We are headed in that direction, but slowly.”
“Rules that they implement, but sometimes they break their own rules just because they are upper management.”
“Bigger space because the clientele continues to increase.”
“The parking area.”
“Standard policies without last minute changes.”
“A larger effort to convert to paperless records. A more sound IT standard operating procedure for digital record keeping.”
“We have the potential and ability to expand more.”
“Have more time to listen to what employees have to say.”
“ Daily work-time documentation.
“Simplify PO system and processing, it is far too complex, difficult and time-consuming.”
“Better team work on performance and job done properly the way it should be done, no shortcuts and work abuse. Job should be done in a professional manner and improve better team role and communication.”
“Interaction between management and all employees. If they only took three minutes out of their day to get to know our names, even the people behind the scenes.”
First-time participant Pacific Data Systems topped the list on the non-managerial employees side as AM Insurance, the two-time leader in the category in 2008 and 2009, maintained its strong showing in second place. Alpha Insurers, another newcomer topped the management list. We note, though, that all participants received more positive scores and comments than negative. And it seems a fair assumption that a company’s willingness to participate in the survey is a good indicator of its concern about employee satisfaction, and its desire to attract a work force that will put it ahead of its competition.

Next: More on The Best Companies to Work For

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