Local Businesses Provide Employee Satisfaction

By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -- In this difficult economy, workplaces are becoming more stressful, and companies are having a tougher time keeping employees happy. But at a business conference in Midwest City, local companies are trying to change that.

Meditation techniques don't generally find their way onto company spread sheets, and yet dozens of Human Resources executives at the Reed Center were learning that and more Monday.

"There's deep breathing techniques that you can do," said Lanette Long with St. Anthony's Hospital. "And then there's just other progressive muscle relaxation types of techniques that you can do."

The idea is employers can bolster their bottom line by lowering employee stress.

"Anytime you improve stress management of your employees, you're going to improve employee satisfaction as well," Long said.

Employee satisfaction was a primary component in determining FORTUNE Magazine's latest 100 Best Companies to Work For, four of which are headquartered in Oklahoma.

View the full listing on FORTUNE's Web site.

"Devon's leadership has done a really good job of being open and transparent," Devon Spokesperson Alesha Leemaster said.

Devon Energy attained the highest rank of the Oklahoma four at No. 13. Company officials say keeping employees satisfied also means keeping them informed, as they did recently, about a less than stellar earnings report.

"We made a point to let our employees know beforehand what was coming, what they can do, that they're very important to our business," Leemaster said.

Tulsa-based QuikTrip is also on the FORTUNE list. They joined Devon and representatives of the other two companies -- Chesapeake and American Fidelity -- on a panel Monday, and say now more than ever employees have to be kept in the loop.

"Communication is key, and we all agreed on the panel that's the most important thing you can do is tell the employees, even if it's bad news, tell them as soon as you know," QuikTrip Human Resources V.P. Kim Owen said.

"That was probably the one takeaway that was so prevalent in all of the themes, is how do we communicate with our employees," said Lisa Putt with Willis HRH.

As mentioned, Devon was No. 13 on the FORTUNE list, QuikTrip was 27, American Fidelity Assurance was 46, and Chesapeake was 73.