"Looking after your employees accounts for 19% of variation in profitability and 18% of variation in productivity."
Page 35
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Tear!, s of managers, drivers and admin staff can drive against each other, and it works wonders at breaking down them-and-us barriers, If you don't want to go that far, just have a party to celebrate an anniversary—merely getting everyone together is a start, say the experts.
One haulier who has done a bit more than most in this department is David Purnell, managing director of Hemel Hempsteadbased Furnell Transport. His firm has a cricket and a football team which take on local pubs and even Purnell Transport's customers, He also takes staff on motor racing days at Donnington Park, and is closely involved in local community activities.
"Truck driving is the loneliest job in the world. I've been there, so I know what it's like," says Furnell. "We try to get the drivers together fairly regularly, and I'm trying to organise the next meeting now. Because of the nature of the work it is hard to get everyone in one room at the same time, but we feel it's important and will pay overtime to make sure it happens."
Furnell says he has tried to keep the close-knit spirit even when the firm has grown in size, and believes it has its rewards: "I like to think we've got a good team spirit here. Mostly it's about being able to have a laugh at each other and enjoying it all."