Honor Roll Webinar Facilitated by Marci Koblenz President, Center for Companies That Care

© Center for Companies That Care, 2007 www.companies-that-care.org

Honor Roll WebinarFacilitated by

Marci Koblenz President, Center for Companies That Care

Cynthia CobbHonor Roll Chair, Board of Directors

Supporting people today; Sustaining society tomorrow


Agenda for Honor Roll Webinar

• Companies That Care update• Application sections and deadline• Evaluation process and criteria• Honor Roll recognition• Education Initiative• Upcoming Companies That Care Exchange events


Companies That Care Update

2008


Update since May• Completed first year of Aim High• Held first Annual Dinner for fundraising• Held first Awareness Breakfast in Philadelphia

– Sponsored by PJM Interconnection

• Kicked off 3-year children’s literacy community effort

• Hired new Office Manager• New zip code ~ 60654


Opportunities for Involvement• Learning

– Honor Roll Network– Virtual Book Club– Best Practices Road Show

• Become Honor Roll Liaison• Volunteer on committees

– Program• Community Symposium• Honor Roll Network• CAREDAYS – Terrific TalesTM

– Marketing– Development– Honor Roll Nominating Committee

• Nominate companies for Honor Roll• Host a Best Practices Road Show or Awareness Breakfast

featuring… You!!


Aim High• Center for Companies That Care is engaging the

business community to increase college graduation rates among low-income, urban youth by partnering business mentors and sponsors with Chicago public high school students– Current college graduation rate is 6%– Goal: 100% of students in the program will attend and graduate from

college• How businesses can get involved…

– Sponsor a student – Mentor a student

• Teams of 3-5 employees per student

• For more information – www.companies-that-care.org/education

http://www.companies-that-care.org/education


Honor Roll Application for Current Honor Roll Organizations

Subsequent Year Application


Why Continue to Be on the Honor Roll?• Accountability

– Establishes an internal standard to continue to meet• Introspection

– Completing application enables self-assessment and look at the “big picture”

• Education– Learn best practices from like-minded organizations; continue to improve

• Leadership– Lead the charge to the role of the employer in our society to one that cares

about the well-being of employees and communities– Mentor other organizations on the Companies That Care journey– Share your organization’s best practices


Why Continue to Be on the Honor Roll?• Attraction

– Companies on lists receive 2x unsolicited resumes

• Recognition– Validates alignment of values and behaviors– Enhanced reputation – Pride in accomplishment

• Citizenship– Expand initiatives on behalf of local communities


Application Basics• All current Honor Roll organizations re-apply• Application deadline for current Honor Roll companies is

December 1• Application may be requested from Companies That

Care website (www.companies-that-care.org/honorroll)• Submit application and survey questions via email

– Submit survey questions in Excel– Send check and Statement of Commitment via snail mail– Can also submit processing fee online

(www.companies-that-care.org/givingstore)• Honor Roll announced on Companies That Care Day

– March 19, 2009– Honor Roll companies will be notified by February 15


Subsequent Year Application• Application sections

– Basic information– Significant company news and impact– 10 Characteristics– 11th Characteristic – continuous improvement– Best Characteristic and Key Learnings– Accomplishments for 2008 goals– Goals for 2009– Statement of Commitment

• Due December 1– OK to submit early!


Evaluation Process• Same as for first-year applicants• Two-tier evaluation of the written application

– Center for Companies That Care staff – Member of the Honor Roll Independent Review Panel

• Media search for relevant news about the organization• Telephone interview to discuss application, if needed• Review of relevant employee attitude survey data

– Survey questions organized by 10 Characteristics– Need 75% overall favorable response for Honor Roll

• Final decision considers both the written application and survey results


Key Evaluation Considerations• Transparency

– Significant News (business changes, legal challenges, staffing changes, benefits and policies changes)

– Integration of Companies That Care feedback– Ratings of change for 10 Characteristics– Progress against goals

• Continuous improvement– Progress in the last year (Significant Changes section)– Some improvement in the Characteristics– Stretch goals

• Last year’s communication about award and commitment to 10 Characteristics


Best Practices for Completing Application• Cut and paste from last year’s application• In 10 Characteristics section, organize

response by – Sustained from previous years and – New/Improved from previous years

• Include metrics where possible• Explain why

– If goals aren’t met– If feedback not addressed– If current goals are unrelated to 10 Characteristics


Helpful Hints• Characteristic 3: Cultivate the full potential… --

not just training programs• Characteristic 4: Encourage…work/life balance

– is more than flextime• Characteristic 6: Develop great leaders… --

emphasis is on people management skills, not general leadership skills

• Characteristic 10: Consider the human toll… -- can be internal or external examples of how this is demonstrated


Common Questions• Can we cut and paste from last year’s application?• What if we don’t do an employee survey every year?

– Results are good for two years– Can use the Companies That Care survey

• What if we didn't accomplish our goals from the previous year or perhaps even address them?

• What if we didn’t implement feedback from last year’s application?

• Is there a warning if an organization is going to be removed from the Honor Roll?

– Yes – one year to address identified concerns– Mission is to develop Companies That Care


Honor Roll Recognition


Honor Roll Recognition• Names of Honor Roll companies posted on Companies

That Care website (www.companies-that-care.org)• Honor Roll seal for use on your website and marketing

materials• “Camera-ready” artwork for “We Made It” poster• Framed Honor Roll plaque given to each recipient

– May purchase additional plaques, too• Honor Roll recipients hold internal celebrations

– Celebration trinkets available at Companies That Care Giving Store– Companies That Care staff member will personally announce the award on-

site, if desired • Press release sent to national and local media by

Companies That Care• Individual recipients may also contact media

– Marci Koblenz or Cynthia Cobb will do interviews on behalf of individual companies

http://www.companies-that-care.org/


Honor Roll Recognition

• Significant marketing of Honor Roll throughout the year including national ad (e.g., Wall Street Journal)– Cost is shared by Honor Roll participants

• Annual recognition/education event for Honor Roll recipients on May 5-6, 2009– One registration fee waived for Recognition Event – Separate education and networking track for executives


2007 Wall Street Journal Ad


Chicago Crain’s Ad


“Working Mother” Ad


Honor Roll Certificate


“We Made It” Poster


Best Practices Book


Honor Roll Recognition Event 2009

Who should attend?Executives

Community RelationsHuman Resources

PR/Marketing


Upcoming Companies That Care Events• Honor Roll

– Honor Roll Network Conference Call: October 22, 2008, 10 AM CST• Helping employees during tough economic times

– Honor Roll liaisons• Debbie Slayden and Sarah Andzules

• Exchange– Community of Caring

• Automatic annual membership this year ($250 value)– Best Practices Roadshow: October 14, 2008 in Chicago

• ½ day seminar in six different cities • Presentations by Honor Roll companies and community leaders• Roundtable discussions and planning for attendees• Seeking sponsors and hosts

– Virtual Book Club


Bonnie Dayan Memorial AwardNominations due February 1, 2009

Criteria• Demonstrates commitment to Companies That Care’s mission• Works to make his/her company a company that cares• Continually raises the bar and further enhances programs and

practices for employees and service to communities• Communicates his/her company’s involvement with

Companies That Care internally and externally• Promotes Companies That Care to other companies• Recommends other caring employers to Companies That Care• Currently an employee of an Honor Roll company

Awardees• One nominee per Honor Roll employer who is a local role

model for caring• One honoree at the Center for Companies That Care level


Discussion Questions• What questions do you have?• What makes your Companies That Care

experience valuable to your organization?• What would make it more valuable?• Nominations for the Honor Roll


Thank you!

www.companies-that-care.org312/661-1010

http://www.companies-that-care.org/

Documents

Honor Roll Webinar Facilitated by Marci Koblenz President, Center for Companies That Care