This Is The Kind of Boss Everyone Wants

I was reading Woman's World today and saw an article about Jack Fessler, a Clearwater, Florida insurance agency owner. I had to tell you what he does for his employees.

His assistants weren't surprised when he said, "Don't eat before coming to work tomorrow" to see pastries and orange juice waiting for them. But what he did next stunned them! Next came little purses stuffed with a wad of money equal to a week's pay for each of his female employees! There was only one catch: they had to spend it in two hours and it had to be spent entirely on themselves. He hired a limo and dropped the women off a local mall. Then, when they got back to work, lunch was waiting for them.

The men in the office weren't forgotten. Jack took them shopping for fishing gear for a trip he was treating them to on his boat.

Now don't get me wrong, it's not the money he was spending so much as showing his appreciation for their hard work. Bosses must remember that when they have good employees, those employees need to be recognized for their efforts.

Not long ago, our agency went through two week long audits. We flew through both with flying colors, and in the second audit, attained Deemed Status. I know you don't know what that means, but trust me it's big in our line of work. Next year, we will have only a one day audit, the year after a three day audit and finally the third year another five day audit. I think those are the right numbers. Anyway, our lieutenant made sure that each person got a memo that was put into our personnel files that thanked us for the work we put into the programs. The captain also expressed his appreciation, although not in writing, but verbally, at meetings.

A lousy job is a lousy job no matter how much you're paid. Sure, money can make it "easier" to bear the job, but no matter how much you make, it's still lousy. When you are appreciated, and it's shown, it means the world to you.

It's bosses like Jack Fessler who know how to show appreciation. He may have started the business, and that's nothing to sneer at, but his employees are the ones who made his business successful. He shows his appreciation to his employees and they show their appreciation by their hard work and loyalty. I'd be willing to bet that while his employees will talk about what Jack buys them, or gives them, or does for them, they wouldn't leave their jobs for the world. It's not the stuff they get from him, it's that they know he appreciates their hard work and loyalty.

This is the kind of person I would do business with in a heartbeat.

I nominate Jack Fessler as Boss of the Year!