Reflections on Benefits: Centering Employees in your Handbook’s Offerings

By Molly Salazar (she/her) Project Associate at Meso

As Meso’s Project Associate, my first big project was creating a comprehensive employee handbook. I was nervous because I wanted to do a great job, and the thought of starting it had me scatterbrained. I felt the weight of this document – it meant creating a solid foundation for a small and mighty business that employs eight humans and making an impact on what the workplace should be like for each individual, those to come, and those we collaborate with. This process led me to reflect on handbook policies and employee benefits I had experienced before, which really informed what I wanted to create. The Meso Solutions handbook needed to start with traditional policies but include a “progressive twist” where we ask, “What are we doing to tune in to our employees’ well-being, and how can we help foster productivity efficiently, effectively, and humanly?”

As an “early-career professional,” I essentially took what I could get. All benefits seemed great until I considered what employer benefits are really for – are they incentives to stay? Are they incentives to be your best self and, in turn, give results?

When thinking about an employee turnover rate, I thought about what could help ensure a company’s success when they are seen as individuals who bring unique strengths and skills to an organization and not as disposable bodies. 

Time-Off Policies

Generous leave or personal time off (PTO) policies are a great way to show employees their health and well-being are valued. I remember one time at a previous organization, I showed up to work with an allergic reaction. I had hives all over, and the hives on my face led to a completely swollen eye. I was so worried about calling out that I showed up to work, hoping that I would be able to go home without using my limited paid time off. I thought, that if they saw me in person, they would understand. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The hiring manager instead asked me, “Do you feel that you’re dying, in need of urgent care?” Therefore, I stayed at the office, took an antihistamine that made me drowsy, and worked the whole day, because there was no way I was going to miss a day’s work or use my PTO which took forever to accrue and had used my limited sick time.

I am so grateful to have an extensive time off policy today. At Meso, we have several forms of time off: vacation days known as paid time off (These are capped per year, but we review each quarter to ensure they’re being used.); holidays (These include scheduled days with two floating holidays that aren’t observed already); unlimited sick leave, and unlimited personal days (These include jury leave, voting days, and more).

Compensation Package

After doubling the size of our team, we wanted to ensure that our compensation package embodied the values we promote in our work to help our clients and other organizations become more inclusive and equitable. We worked with Jaya Bhumitra, a social justice activist and consultant, who conducted an equity review of our compensation package. 

The themes discussed privately between Jaya and each staff member were: Wage Transparency, Wage Scaling vs. Formulas, Frequency and Method of Wage Increases, Common Factors That Influence Wages, General Staffing Plans, and Benefits. In this process, we learned that developing an equitable compensation package is an art, not a science. That is because it’s not so cut and dry. The findings and recommendations given to us were based on each staff’s satisfaction with their own wage and benefits, and the factors they thought should most influence wage determinations. 

At Meso, we've seen nothing but positive impacts after the implementation of our employee-centered handbook. My intention for sharing these experiences is for other employers to hold these conversations and seek what their employees' needs are. Not only is it a people first approach, but it can ensure sustainability in your business as well, creating an environment where all employees feel heard and respected.