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GESOP Communication

Nov 20, 2013 5:00:00 AM

Effective communication plays a central role in every successful corporate initiative. When we first created the GESOP in late 2010, we intended to do a great job of communicating its benefits with all our employee-owners. Unfortunately, we got busy running the business, and frankly didn’t work on the communication of our GESOP. We got serious about communication in late 2012, and established our GESOP Communication Committee.

As the Trustee, I work directly with the committee to establish a plan for increasing everyone’s interest in the GESOP and their knowledge of the plan and how it works. When we established the committee, we strategically planned representation from the various areas of our business. We started meeting in early 2013, with our first task to establish a game plan for the year, culminating in a lot of activity in October -National ESOP Month.

Our overall theme wound up being tied into a travel related grand prize. We then designed monthly contests and smaller prizes throughout the year. Each time someone completed our contest correctly, they received an entry into that month’s prize, as well as an entry into the big prize. We had word searches, crossword puzzles, a word list/fill in the blank puzzle, a lunch and learn, and more. Participation was pretty good, but we can get better in 2014, and we will.

For October’s celebration of National ESOP Month, we did something to celebrate each week. Week 1 saw us bring in Dairy Queen for all our offices (yes, a sugar free option for those so inclined). Week 2 was our lunch and learn where I revisited our plan basics. Week 3 saw us have a pumpkin carving contest. Week 4 was fabulously labeled “GESOP-toberFest”. We shut down the offices at 3:30, and had brats, sauerkraut, and baked beans. We also awarded our Grand Prize for the year – a $750 travel voucher!

Considering 2013 was our first year with the Committee, I am very pleased with the increase in GESOP knowledge and look forward to enhancing our efforts in 2014.

Our GESOP has brought a great deal of camaraderie and fun to our agency. And as you probably remember from my earlier blogs, there is a great deal of mutual benefits to our employee-owners and our business. Have you considered an ESOP for your company?

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Topics: ESOP
Gibson

Written by Gibson

Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. As an employee-owned company, Gibson is driven by close relationships with their clients, employees, and the communities they serve. The first Gibson office opened in 1933 in Northern Indiana, and as the company’s reach grew, so did their team. Today, Gibson serves clients across the country from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah.