Branded Group prides itself on the creative collaborations we have implemented since our launch eight years ago. In 2020, we launched the Branded Group Buddy Program, which paired a remote employee with an employee working in our headquarters. The goal was to build relationships, share learnings, and provide a means of professional support. This has morphed into BeBetter Coffee Breaks most recently, where team members are virtually matched with a peer to foster deeper working relationships. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our team to get to know each other and that everyone feels included, appreciated, and connected to our #BeBetter culture.
To ensure our professional development programs are reflective of the needs of our organization, we launched a Training Taskforce. This group consists of representatives from different departments who provide suggestions to enhance our skills training as well as our onboarding and new hire process.
In 2021, our senior managers completed a leadership training called “Dare to Inspire.” This program consisted of monthly gatherings to discuss various principles of the program as well as how to incorporate these into our daily operations.
Each week, we hold team meetings across all levels of the organization to review priorities, recognize achievements, and discuss company news.
During COVID, we launched a Hometown Heroes program in which employees could showcase someone in their family or community who was going above and beyond, which we shared on our social media. Thankful Thursdays were another way in which we were able to keep our team focused on an attitude of gratitude in spite of external circumstances.
Our employees participate in a number of social impact initiatives that foster collaboration and ignite the spirit of giving throughout our organization. Most recently, this included Pinwheels for Hope for The Priority Center, various volunteer activities completed during our first BeBetter Week (recognizing our 8th anniversary), and we are currently planning our annual 5K.
Our employees have a positive vision for the future due to the transparency of our senior leadership and CEO. At our quarterly Town Hall meetings, information about our financial standing is shared along with plans for our future growth. In recent years, we have had a 70% increase in our staff, along with several promotions, which has enabled our team to see that opportunities are available for career development.
We regularly recognize promotions and work anniversaries on our social media and internal communications, furthering this positive vision. In internal and third-party surveys, our employees have noted how proud they are to work at Branded Group. Most recently, ninety percent of our team members recognized us as a Great Place to Work® for the fifth consecutive year and ninety-eight percent are proud of Branded Group’s commitment to social impact.
Additionally, we have many customers and vendors who regularly share testimonials on their positive experience with us, showcasing their loyalty. Lastly, and perhaps most important, our workforce sees our unwavering commitment to our social impact initiatives, even during challenging times, such as COVID.
We discuss our open door policy during every new hire orientation. We conduct an annual employee survey soliciting and encouraging open and honest feedback. Many of our process and program improvements have come from suggestions shared by employees via this tool. Our quarterly Town Hall meetings also provide a means for people to ask questions and share their feedback.
Our company is guided by our commitment to Be Better, which is reflected in our company culture and the mindset of each of our team members who are focused on continuous improvement. In order to Be Better, we must have an open mind and be willing to change. By providing a variety of channels with which to provide input, our team feels valued and appreciated for their ideas and contributions.
Branded Group offers a number of health and wellness benefits including to promote mental and physical wellbeing including gym membership reimbursement, a robust wellness program, and an employee assistance program (EAP).
To support our employee’s professional development, we offer tuition reimbursement, skills and leadership training, and career development planning meetings with managers. Additionally, we encourage everyone to complete the Clifton Strengths assessment. Now that we are a completely remote workforce, we are investing in improved online training tools.
During our first year, our core values, along with our vision and mission, were developed in collaboration with our employees. The entire team rallies around our BeBetter commitment to our customers, vendors, community, and each other. In internal employee surveys, we have received high marks for our steadfastness to our core values and ensuring that we remain true to our vision to “build a conscious business to inspire future humanitarian leaders.”
Early in our company’s history, we promoted a values campaign in which team members selected a core value and demonstrated how they were exemplifying it. The content we share in our employee newsletters, leadership blog posts, and articles features these guiding principles.
Additionally, team members can earn a Tool Belt based upon completion of activities that showcase how they “live and breathe” each of our core values.
We recently implemented Bonusly, an employee recognition program in which our team members can earn points based on a variety of activities. They can use their points for themselves or they can give them to one of their peers. Our wellness program has enabled many team members to lose weight, stop smoking, and even incented one to become a yoga instructor.
Days of Purpose, launched to support our social impact initiatives, provides paid time off to anyone who volunteers. New programs have been launched due to the feedback from our annual employee engagement surveys, illustrating the importance of everyone being given a voice for change. We regularly hold team events, including virtual happy hours that give everyone the opportunity to connect and build relationships.
Our creative social impact activities, including several virtual 5Ks held during the pandemic, have garnered outstanding feedback and participation. We also conduct book clubs that foster insightful discussions and deepen team bonds.
Soon after the launch of Branded Group, our CEO Michael Kurland wanted to ensure that his business gave back to the community. The result was our award-winning One-for-One program in which completed customer service calls were transformed into some type of volunteer service. For example, initially, these calls led to volunteer time on Habitat for Humanity builds. Today, they equate to meals for Feeding America constituents. This reflects our core value to Be Altruistic.
His open-door policy, transparency, and authentic leadership are examples of our core value to Be Honest. Michael encourages each of his team members to be themselves, which puts everyone at ease enabling them to be their best. His leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic was an example of our core value to Be Adaptable. Many of our processes and even our work location changed overnight. Because of his and his senior leadership’s foresight, we were able to make this transition seamlessly.
Michael gives credit where credit is due. He regularly calls out his team for their contributions and achievements, exemplifying our core value to Be Humble. Finally, Be Better – Michael continuously illustrates through his personal and professional activities what it means to “strive to be better for yourself, the company, the customer, and the community.”
Whether it’s participating in a company 5K, food drive or giving a shout out on social media to an employee, Michael illustrates our core values to every employee every day.
In 2021, we implemented the Bonusly program and we have utilized it to reward employees in a number of ways, such as by liking or sharing company social media posts. We offer both gym and tuition reimbursement, a work from home stipend, referral bonuses, and even pet insurance. We also send every new hire a care package filled with office supplies, company attire, and other sundries to help them feel welcome.
Branded Group is a full-service facility maintenance company that promptly diagnoses and efficiently resolves facility issues. Through its #BeBetter Experience, its team of industry experts provides services such as on-demand maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation for multi-site commercial facilities. The company’s vision to “Be Better” is demonstrated in its industry-leading client retention, steadily increasing revenues, and an ever-expanding service team. The company is driven to deliver on its #BeBetter experience and is guided by its vision to build a conscious business that inspires future humanitarian leaders.
222 S Harbor Blvd, Suite 500
Anaheim, CA 92805
Facilities Services
Michael Kurland
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