Emmanuel Hospice has again been named one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources.
The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employees. Organizations are assessed by an independent research firm based on categories such as communication, work-life blend, employee education and development, diversity, equity and inclusion, employee recognition, retention and more.
This is the third time Emmanuel Hospice has made the list of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. In 2020, the nonprofit provider of hospice care also received recognition on the national level.
“We are honored to again be recognized as one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For with the best human resources practices,” Emmanuel Hospice Executive Director Sara Lowe said. “This honor reaffirms our efforts to ensure our entire team feels valued and supported with the same level of compassionate, person-centered care we provide for our patients.”
Since inception, Emmanuel’s team has gone from one part-time employee serving its first patient in 2013 to more than 90 team members today who care for 170 patients daily in eight West Michigan counties. So far in 2022, the team has continued to grow with more than 20 new employees.
As part of the application process, the organization highlighted human resource practices such as targeting compensation in the 75th percentile for the geographic area and industry, encouraging vital behaviors for positive interactions internally and with patients and their families, the total amount the organization spends on benefits as a percentage of operating income and the in-depth hiring process used to select the right candidates.
Emmanuel Hospice also shared its ongoing training to create a culture of anti-racism, its Employee Relief Fund where staff could access additional financial assistance and other employee-focused benefits, such as one-on-one self-care coaching and a partnership with Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services through an employee assistance program.
In 2021, Emmanuel Hospice expanded the use of its bereavement policy to allow for self-care days for staff, enabling employees to take a day off on short notice. These days are separate from paid time off, to focus on their personal well-being. Additionally, the organization conducted “stay interviews” with all team members to discover what they love about working at Emmanuel Hospice and how the nonprofit can better serve them in a changing workforce.
For employee enrichment efforts, Emmanuel Hospice shared the work of its “Fun Committee,” a group of staff from different disciplines who meet monthly to plan employee activities, such as the annual chili cook-off, celebration of quirky holidays (i.e. assorted pickles in the breakroom for National Pickle Day), and coordinate cards/gifts for staff milestones.
Emmanuel Hospice also utilizes an online employee engagement platform called Motivosity. Each employee gets $5 per month to give in the form of “kudos” to other employees. They can send a shout-out to another employee based on one of the nonprofit’s values and attach a dollar to their kudos. Employees then redeem the dollars they’ve received in the form of gift cards to many different restaurants and stores. Work anniversaries, new staff and upcoming activities are also celebrated on the platform, which functions like an internal social media platform for the organization.
“In the past year, we have continued our commitment to doing right by our staff, and we’re honored to earn this distinction once again,” said Matt Schipper, director of support services. “By providing new opportunities for our staff to engage in self-care, build community and offer feedback, we aim to cultivate an environment where everyone can thrive.
“We also know that in taking care of our staff, we empower them to provide the highest quality of care to our patients and families.”
About Emmanuel Hospice
Emmanuel Hospice is a faith-based nonprofit provider of compassionate, person-centered hospice care to patients and families in West Michigan. Serving the community since 2013, the organization is a collaborative effort of St. Ann’s, Clark, Porter Hills and Sunset designed to complete the continuum by providing end-of-life care to those inside – and outside – the walls of these organizations. For more information, visit www.emmanuelhospice.org.
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