Babies are Welcome at T3 T3 is an independent advertising agency launched by Gay
ID: 363197 • Letter: B
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Babies are Welcome at T3 T3 is an independent advertising agency launched by Gayt Warren Gaddis in Austin, Texas, in 1989. It has grown rapidly, thanks to Gaddis’s ability to stay in front of tumultuous change in the advertising and marketing industry. Traditional agencies have approached their work by thinking about ads to be place on the air or in newspapers and magazines. In contrast, Gaddis and her staff have specialized in developing integrated campaigns that harness all the ways to communicate about a brand, including communication via the Internet. Innovation continues to be a company value. The company’s careers Web page says T3 looks for “Great thinkers. Individuals with curious, open minds. Relentless problem-solvers constantly looking for new, often unconventional, solutions.” The company is structured without the boundaries that have traditionally separated functions in the advertising world, so that employees can bring their perspectives together to solve client problems. That innovative spirit hasn’t been limited to advertising. Gaddis also thinks creatively about managing her firm’s human resources. Six years after starting T3, Gaddis observed that four of her key employees were all pregnant at about the same time. If they all proceeded in the traditional way, taking a few months’ leave, Gaddis would be scrambling to keep her agency running without them. So, Gaddis decided to try something unusual: she told the four employees they were welcome to bring their babies to work. While some big companies establish on-site day care, Gaddis simply counted on the employees to work flexibly in the presence of their children. Many people would assume that babies at work would create a distracting environment, but in fact, the new program was a success. T3 kept the policy in place and even gave it a name: T3 and Under. So far, 55 babies have come to work at one point or another. Gaddis says parents are so appreciative that they try extra hard to make the arrangement work. One such parent, Emily Dalton, feels reassured by begin able to just swivel her chair when she wants to check on her baby: “You’re not worrying,” she told a newspaper reporter, “You’re being spit up on, but you’re not . . . calling somewhere to check on your child.” She admits that she must be extra flexible when her baby, Annie, is awake but adds, “I powerhouse when she sleeps.” When the babies reach nine months or start to crawl, the parents are expected to make arrangements for day care. Bringing babies to work is, of course, only one employee benefit. T3, which now has offices in New York and San Francisco as well as the one in Austin, offers medical, dental, and vision insurance; various life insurance policies; disability insurance; a 401(k) plan; paid time for vacations, holidays, and sick leave; and discounts on gym memberships and cell phone plans. There are also some other unusual benefits: breakfast on Mondays, candy on Fridays, a book club, and a “bring your dog to work” policy. As for this last policy, the T3 Web site comments, “While we don’t have hard metrics on what [dogs] do for our creativity or productivity, we do believe they play a part in adding balance to what can be a very unbalanced business.” Advertising may be an “unbalanced” business, but so far, T3 seems to be coping well enough. Adweek recently rated it a top agency, with almost 15 percent growth in revenues. It clients include big brands such as JCPenney, UPS, Facebook, and Microsoft.
1 - What did you learn from the case above? - (150 to 200 words )
2- Apply any factor of ( Competency HR model : Business, HR expert, Leader, Advocate or Change agent) to the case ? ( Can be more than one) - (150 to 200 words )
Evolution of HR Roles HDFC BANK We understand your wor Employee Advocate Values Diversity Resolves Conflict Communicates Well Respects Others Functional Expert Knows HR Principles Customer Oriented Applies Business Procedures anages Resources es HR Tools Leader Takes Risks Ethical Decisive Develops Staff Creates Trust HC Developer Individual Focus Manages Change Future Orientation Coach Team Relationships Strategic Partner Mission Oriented Strategic Planner Systems Innovator Understands Team Behavior CopyrightsHDFC Bank ConfidentialRestricted Intemal PublicExplanation / Answer
The above case reveals the importance of flexibility imparting to work culture. T3 had experienced the importance of providing the home like working conditions to its employees. They not only are supporting the business but are creating a sense of loyalty to its organisations. With this approach, the employees working at T3 will be creative and innovative as they don't have to worry about home. Because a fresh and tension free mind can be a great thinker than that of exhaustive one.
T3 can be facilitated with the title as Change agent. It is because, in this dynamic business environment, every employee is seeking maximum benefit at minimum cost. T3 had rightly adapted the process of providing a cordial business working conditions to pregnant employees which are essential in retaining them for long-term. It had changed the way the employees are retained by facilitating the recreational and fringe benefit facilities to these cited employees. Having a recreational area is one of the best ways of managing employees and improving team morale in the workplace. It makes work fun and breaks the ice between them, eventually building a strong workforce who will be on top of their game at all times, whether it is customer service, client servicing or sales.
A balanced work is more productive a T3. People like to work for themselves is the control issue. By allowing employees to determine their own schedule and work environment, can appeal to the entrepreneurial spirit—which can be good for employees. This will enhance productivity and reduce the attrition rate in the organization, ultimately benefiting business’s performance.When the work environment is fun, it gives the brain a boost to think differently and come up with out-of-the-box ideas. Creating a recreational space will enable your employees to stay motivated and refreshed throughout the day.
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