There’s not a month that goes by, that readers of business magazines and hipster blogs are not regaled with stories of some revolutionary modern-day corporate culture. Bring your dog to work, take time to play ping-pong, and a healthy snack is provided free every day; these are the bonuses offered by a growing number of innovative, with-it companies. In this whimsical environment, many a lucky employee doesn’t even feel like they are at work.
This trend has been a Millennial phenomenon, replete with extra days off, flexible work schedules and on-site health spas.
But the notion of an employee-centered work environment is not a new idea. A husband and wife couple, by the last name of Wallace, figured out that an appealing workplace environment made for happy employees way back in the 1930’s. The Wallace’s were revolutionary in their thinking about a culture at work that rewarded employees in a number of ways. The couple’s publication, the Reader’s Digest, was revolutionary in its own right.
The success of the Reader’s Digest is a testament, at least in part, to the gratitude and the enthusiasm of the editors and other employees who worked for DeWitt and Lila Bell Acheson Wallace. The publication’s circulation surpassed 1 million by 1935. By 1981, Reader’s Digest had shifted into high gear with sales of approximately 18 million copies a month. Making the work environment more enjoyable was paying off.
Making Employees Feel Appreciated
The concept of balancing work and family life was something that DeWitt Wallace understood, even during a decade when American companies were challenged. Mr. Wallace let employees know that staying past 4 p.m. wasn’t necessary. Mrs. Wallace surrounded employees with artwork by some of the world’s most notable artists. It was a privileged work environment for a lucky few.
Many employees of Reader’s Digest also participated in bowling, baseball and golf leagues. Participation in these leagues came with rewards. The season ending annual dinner offered the choice of lobster or filet mignon; a pricy treat.
Employees who completed 20 years on the job were rewarded with a trip, for them and their spouses, to Bermuda. That milestone also allowed the faithful employee to take two additional weeks of vacation. Other valuable gifts came with shorter milestones. Employees understood that they were valued. A firing was a rare occurrence.
While many companies are lauded today for their innovative incentives, the Wallace’s and their employees at Reader’s Digest were way ahead of their time. Sometimes the creative thinking of the past gets lost in the clamor of today’s frenzied attempts at illustrating just how cutting-edge the new kid on the block can be. Eight decades ago, a husband and wife team quietly designed a work environment that treated employees right, even as the dogs were left at home.
© 2016 K Richard Douglas
