Employer Profile

Top 10 ranking: No. 4 for retention, No. 4 for career development Through the use of a "rounding" communication technique, managers and IT employees at this not-for-profit health care system in Columbia, S.C., talk at least monthly, using consistently applied questions such as which staffers within and outside of IT should be recognized, which processes that are working well and whether there are areas that may benefit from improvement. Employees are also asked if they have the tools and equipment they need to perform their daily tasks and if managers can do something to help them. This interaction results in specific documented actions that are relayed back to the employee who originally suggested the change. As a corporate department, IT has staff at many locations across the state, some managed by a home office leader. As a result, this rounding technique requires each leader to routinely visit every location personally. Each leader must maintain a "rounding log" that is reviewed with his supervisor at their monthly one-on-one meeting. Promotions plus: The IT department promoted 18 employees during the past fiscal year, representing 11% of the IT staff. Over the past three years, 56 staff members have been promoted to positions of greater responsibility and authority. Outstanding performance is recognized through an IT Employee of the Quarter program. Nominations can be submitted by anyone within the organization; the nominees are blindly reviewed by a committee, and a vote determines the winner. All nominated employees are recognized at a quarterly IT forum. The winner is announced and brought onstage, and the CIO presents a framed certificate, a front-row parking pass for the quarter and a $250 check. Two more sweet deals: A tuition reimbursement policy offers up to $5,000 annually for each employee, and IT reimburses employees for certification training and exam fees.