Home State Bank has been awarded a 2016 Top Workplaces honor by The Des Moines Register. The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including alignment, execution, and connection.
“The Top Workplaces award is not a popularity contest. And oftentimes, people assume it’s all about fancy perks and benefits.” says Doug Claffey, CEO of WorkplaceDynamics.
“But to be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day — the employees. Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together.” Claffey adds, “Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace.”
This is the first year Home State Bank has participated in the survey. The results from employee surveys catapulted the bank to the 7th highest rated small company in Iowa. In February 2016, Home State Bank employees completed the survey to give a snapshot of their opinions of the organization’s health.
For a comparable benchmark, Workplace Dynamics used survey results from 94 other aspiring top workplaces in the financial services sector. Every statement rated by Home State Bank employees scored higher than the average of these 94 aspiring workplaces. Sometimes Home State Bank scores were as much as 59 percent higher than average.
Sid Jones, president and CEO of Home State Bank said, “Being selected by the Des Moines Register as the 7th highest among 2016 Top Workplaces for small companies is an honor for our employees and a reflection on our entire staff. It makes me very proud, and it is my honor and privilege to be a part of a culture and workplace environment where employees enjoy one another and rely on each other for success, while at the same time find joy in serving our customers.”
Iowa companies that employ at least 35 employees are eligible for the award. Employees are surveyed and asked to rank statements on a seven-point scale and are also encouraged to add anonymous comments. One such comment from a Home State Bank employee was “My co-workers make it easy to come to work every day. They make me feel like I am a part of a team when I walk in the doors.”
About Home State Bank: Home State Bank was organized in 1934, and is still owned by descendants of its founder Warren Garst in a holding company, Greene Investment Company. Two of Warren Garst’s granddaughters presently serve on the Home State Bank board of directors, Elizabeth Garst and Jennifer Garst. Currently, the bank employs 35 and reaches customers in 45 different states.
About WorkplaceDynamics, LLC: Headquartered in Exton, PA, WorkplaceDynamics specializes in employee feedback surveys and workplace improvement. This year alone, more than two million employees in over 6,000 organizations will participate in the Top Workplaces™ campaign—a program it conducts in partnership with more than 40 prestigious media partners across the United States. Workplace Dynamics also provides consulting services to improve employee engagement and organizational health. WorkplaceDynamics is a founding B Corporation member, a coalition of organizations that are leading a global movement to redefine success in business by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.
