Compromise vs. Collaboration
At SAHA, we need collaboration, not compromise.
By Henry A. Alvarez III
SAHA President and CEO
Many people think compromise is the secret to successful employment. You give a little, I give a little and everyone meets in a happy middle ground.
Truth is, we don’t need compromise at SAHA. We need collaboration. We start with a goal and decide as a team how we will best meet that goal. We each contribute to the final plan and work together toward implementation.
A team that collaborates succeeds. A team that compromises gets mired in its own mediocrity. A collaborative workplace is a dynamic, energetic place where people eagerly contribute to the conversation of change.
So how do you start collaborating in your workplace? Talk. Offer ideas and suggestions. Look for things that need to change, and ask your fellow workers to join you in the effort to find the best way. Managers and supervisors, empower your employees with the spirit of collaboration. Take the risk of letting them do something until failure or success, and work with them to give their ideas the best chance of succeeding.
After all, that’s what collaboration is all about: Finding the best way. At SAHA, we want the best ideas, the freshest innovation, the grandest vision of the future.
I’m confident that we will get there when we collaborate on how we can use our principles and dedication to bring our vision of the future to fruition.
Cowboy Breakfast
Rodeo event raises funds for Employee Association.
SAHA employees get in the rodeo spirit with a "cowboy breakfast" January 27 at the central office and warehouse. The Employee Association served homemade biscuits & sausage gravy, your choice of breakfast taco and coffee or juice.
SAHA Commissioners Approve Pension Improvements
Plan gives vesting after five years of service.
During their January 12 meeting, the SAHA Board of Commissioners approved a change to the agency pension plan that gives employees full vesting after five years of service. The previous vesting schedule called for seven years of employment with the agency before full-time employees earned full pension privileges.
In basic terms, the pension plan is a retirement account in which SAHA matches employee contributions. Now, at the end of five years, an employee leaving SAHA can draw the entire value of the account.
SAHA employees begin earning pension benefits after one year on the job. Employees contribute five percent of annual salary to the agency’s pension plan, while SAHA contributes 11 percent.
The new vesting schedule is:
|
Years of Service
|
Percentage
|
|
1
|
20%
|
|
2
|
40%
|
|
3
|
60%
|
|
4
|
80%
|
|
5
|
100%
|
SAHA Wellness and Employee Assistance Program
Promoting health and wellness is the goal of a program for employees and their families debuting this month.
SAHA’s new Wellness and Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offered through Wellspring Healthcare, Inc., debuts February 9. Features include:
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
- Once a year, on-line HRA including objective, clinically obtained data (weight, height, blood pressure, resting pulse, and body fat percentage) at no extra charge. Member must visit a Health Coach’s office for collection of the clinical data.
Each individual receives a Personal Wellness Profile Report that includes all the details in addition to an overall wellness score and health age.
Intervention
- Free face-to-face consultation with a Health Coach to review HRA.
- Free face-to-face session with a counselor to address the behavioral and emotional aspects of change. Must be referred for face-to-face session via the 24/7 telephone access described below.
- Free 24/7 access to telephone counseling, support, and assistance via counselors, attorneys, and financial experts.
Employees and dependents can enroll in a six-month intervention program and meet frequently with the Health Coach who serves as a resource, motivator, and provider. Based upon risk factors identified in the HRA, the Health Coach sets goals and holds the person accountable.
Educational Tools
- Access to Internet-based tools for self-directed intervention.
- Monthly Health & Wellness Newsletter via email.
On-Site Wellness Education
- Wellspring will coordinate periodic Health Presentations to educate employees on the importance of obtaining and living a healthy lifestyle.
Access
- Discounted access to Wellspring Healthcare’s network of health and wellness providers who offer discounts to Wellspring Members.
- Access to Wellspring’s Wellness Mall for discounted products.
- Available optional, fee-based, components including discounted lab and diagnostic testing.
Emphasizing Customer Care
Human Resources takes training to the field.
Human Resources is taking customer service training to the field with a series of classes for maintenance personnel at the warehouse.
The program is built around the four SAHA Core Values.
1. Always do the right thing.
In this module, the discussion and exercises focus on making an excellent first impression. This includes proper dress and grooming, in addition to identification and presentation when approaching a residence.
2. Demonstrate compassion and respect in every interaction.
This module focuses on interactions between residents and technicians. It includes taking responsibility for work done and following the golden rule.
3. Strive for excellence in all operations.
In this module, the discussion focuses on always delivering the best product possible.
4. Be responsible stewards of the public trust.
This module focuses on defining and understanding terms and expectations of stewardship, being ethical, responsible and professional.
Income Tax Assistance
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax assistance and filing.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free income tax assistance, e-filing and fast refunds for people making less than $40,000 annually. For more information, see the United Way’s VITA web page here.
Employee Breakfast Update
Mark your calendars for the annual Employee Recognition Breakfast.
At 8 a.m., Friday, March 3, SAHA will hold its annual Employee Recognition Breakfast at the Omni Hotel. “Hearts as Big as Texas” is this year’s theme, and The Authority (SAHA’s own in-house band) is scheduled to perform. Click here to view the map.
SAHA 2006 Holiday Schedule
Board approves holiday changes.
** Employee must be employed with SAHA by December 31, 2005 in order to request a Floating Holiday during 2006. All eligible employees must submit their requests to their supervisor in advance.
SAHA Spotlight
Laura Longoria: A purpose-driven life.
Laura Longoria didn’t have a career goal after graduating from South San Antonio High School in 1984.
She had a purpose.
With four brothers and sisters at home, Laura knew she needed a job that would help support her family. She quickly found work with Time-Warner cable, and spent 12 years in customer service, eventually working her way up to a supervisor role. At the urging of a friend, she changed jobs within the company and became a billing systems analyst.
With the birth of son Joshua, Laura’s purpose grew, and she eventually left the comfort and security of the cable company to work as an information systems analyst for a start-up software firm. When the company relocated out of state, Laura searched for a company with a strong identity and a great purpose. She found it at SAHA.
“It was a natural fit,” Laura, a human resources risk analyst, said. “I thought the job offered me a chance to contribute to something bigger than myself.”
Laura spends what little free time she has with her 12-year-old son, an avid basketball fan. While she wouldn't mind a night of dancing or listening to music, she prefers watching the Spurs with Joshua and enjoying those rare quiet moments that come in a purpose-filled life.
