TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Self-serving
on company timeWarning: This column is likely to cause perquisite envy. Imagine being encouraged to take a week of paid personal development leave to take a cooking class, do volunteer work for a nonprofit organization or to paddle around the island.
Use of the time for professional development would be strictly prohibited.
Just such a policy was announced Monday at PacificBasin Communications LLC, publishers of Honolulu, Hawaii Business, Hawaii Home + Remodeling and Pacific magazines and other specialty publications.
"Because we're a company that thrives on creativity," President Floyd Takeuchi said, "we have to encourage it. If we do, we have better magazines and better Web sites."
It also boosts morale, he said.
"We know there are a number of companies that provide X days paid for people to volunteer with organizations," Takeuchi said. "But this really is not forcing anyone to volunteer per se.
"It's what can we do to encourage the staff to be creative and nourish their creative side, so there wasn't really a model we looked at," he said, characterizing the policy as a way to meet a need.
"One thing we can do is provide time," he said of the policy created by company Chairman Duane Kurisu (also a minority investor in the Star-Bulletin) and Chief Financial Officer Randal Ikeda.
Beyond time, it's money, although Takeuchi did not release a figure. The benefits are in addition to regular vacation and personal time.
"There is a substantial financial cost to this but I am convinced, as are Duane and Randal, that the cost is more than offset by the potential for our staff," Takeuchi said.
Employees must seek a supervisor's approval for five consecutive days of leave, prepare a one-paragraph statement on how the leave will be spent and what they hope to accomplish. Upon returning, a "What I did on my personal development leave" report of some sort must be turned in.
"It could be an essay, poetry, photos, etc.," Takeuchi said, which would then be posted on the company Intranet site "to inspire and encourage other staff members."
It will take effect Aug. 1, the same day that salaries cut in late February will be restored.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com