Company picnics? Too risky. Ballpark outings? Not an option
anymore. Face time with company executives is relegated to, you guessed it,
FaceTime on that smartphone.
Since the pandemic disrupted many company traditions and
benefits, Western Pennsylvania’s companies have been offering new perks and
premiums to make their employees feel valued — in some cases including
additional vacation days, flexible hours and continuing with remote work
systems even as some lockdown rules eased.
“We have a large staff but [our managers] know us personally
— our husbands, wives, children — and they have a vested interest in us,” said
Karen Imhoff, an account manager at The PT Services Group, a Downtown business
services provider.
The PT Services Group has surprised its employees with
companywide days off several times since transitioning to remote work in March.
The company provided personal computers for employees, a particularly helpful
gesture for those whose children use the family computer for online schooling.
The company has also been flexible with work-from-home hours.
“We recognize that everyone’s under a lot of stress, and all
of our folks are working really, really hard and keeping our business alive,”
said Bob Zupanek, vice president of operations.
Although COVID-19 has left many businesses strapped for
cash, employers are making health insurance a priority.
Star Auto Mall in Greensburg furloughed 75% of its 122
workers for eight weeks but continued to offer health care coverage to those
employees. Cleaveland/Price, a Trafford-based engineering/manufacturing firm,
has maintained coverage for all employees through Highmark, which offers
COVID-19 testing at no cost.
Companies are also trying to be sensitive to the unique
circumstances of their employees. Camillo Lamatrice, a senior associate at The
PT Services Group, said he’s been hesitant to leave the house due to his age
but hasn’t received any pressure to return to work.
First National Bank, based on the North Shore, added five
days to its paid caregiver leave program, which typically provides employees up
to 10 paid days off to care for a sick family member. It also provided a relief
payment to its essential frontline workers to cover financial hardship brought
on by the pandemic.
Most of Star Auto Mall’s employees are required to work at
the dealership, but managers have been accommodating of those who typically
rely on childcare.
“If there’s a family situation, it isn’t questioned twice,”
said Brian Malanowski, the IT director for Star Auto Mall. “They say, ‘Yeah,
good, take care of it, no problem.’”
Along with adjusting benefits, companies have revamped
employee rewards to adhere to social distancing protocols. Food continues to be
the key to many employees’ hearts, even when consumed 6 feet apart — or on
screen.
Cleaveland/Price provides boxed lunches for its on-site
employees each Wednesday. It’s a socially distant alternative to the
buffet-style meal that the company typically served each week.
“Our caterer has tried to have a different combo of sandwich
and side and dessert every week to keep things interesting,” said human
resources manager Dan Gorenz.
Instead of taking employees out to lunch for their work
anniversary — as was traditional before the pandemic — CEO Harvey Pollack of
the PT Services Group has been sending his employees gift cards so they can get
takeout and join him for a phone call.
These socially distant gatherings and meals will likely be
the norm until companies can return to the Kennywood outings and happy hours of
the past.
“We have employees asking, ‘When are we going to have the
hot lunches again?’” Mr. Gorenz said. “I tell them, ‘When the virus is over!’”
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