It is HR’s job to take care of the employees, their needs and their families’ needs so that the employee can take care of the business and customer. What other advice do you have for human resource professionals that strive to make their companies a better place to work? I am proud to say that Honest Tea is ahead of the pack and already making strides in these areas. Whether someone is new or has been there a long time, a personal touch such as a call, e-mail, or short interaction to ask how they are, and what is going on in their lives goes a long way in building relationships. Employees like to know that their company cares about them. Happy employees lead to even more loyal customers. As long as you’re not doing anything illegal or unethical, it’s OK to break the rules and bend with the business to make employees happy. The new trend is wellness-related benefits. This term has long been associated with company cars, lavish expense accounts and the like. HR is here to make the lives of employees easier and better. In discussing how this market context drives strategy, Debra Schwartz, Managing Director of Impact Investments at MacArthur Foundation, described the Foundation’s ruthless commitment to additionality: We want to do transactions where ‘but-for’ the foundation’s engagement, the transaction, the innovation, the scale would not have been possible. Position HR as customer service and internal marketing.At the end of the day if we are not making money, then HR doesn’t exist. That means being creative with salaries, bonuses, and benefits without taking anything away from the employee. What do you think are the top five trends for human resources over the next few years? If you leave us out we cannot be the business’ advocate to the employees, we cannot explain all points of view. HR brings an internal perspective and represents the employee’s view. HR belongs at the table for many reasons. How do you think this decision has benefited Honest Tea? What do you say to companies that don’t include HR as part of the executive team? Some companies don’t include the director of HR as part of their leadership. You are a member of Honest Tea’s executive team. Anyone we interview, no matter what position, is asked: “Why do you want this position and why do you want to work for Honest Tea?” The answer has to be creative, passionate and real for them to make it to the next round. The only way to maintain a culture is to hire the right people. What factors do you feel have contributed to winning these important awards?Ĭulture, which starts with hiring. In 2009, Honest Tea was named a “Best Place to Work” by Bethesda Magazine, and this year, it was picked as a Winning Workplace by Inc. An edited transcript of their conversation follows. Miri McDonald, an expert on organizational development, recently spoke with Debra about her role in cultivating the company’s progressive culture. Debra Schwartz is director of human resources for Honest Tea, a beverage company based in Bethesda, Md.
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