Management, 12th Edition

12

Organization Culture and Change

Wisdom Learning From Others

> HEALTHY LIVING SETS THE TONE AT CLIF BAR

Have you had your Clif Bar today? Lots of people have, thanks to a long bike ride during which Gary Erickson decided he just couldn't eat another of the available energy bars. He went back to experiment in his mother's kitchen and produced the first Clif Bar two years later.

Despite its growth from a one-man operation to one employing 270+ people, Clif's still runs with a commitment to what it calls the “5 aspirations”—“sustaining our planet … community … people … business … brands.”

Clif's core values are evident not only in the firm's healthy organic foods and philanthropy, but also in the quality of working life offered to employees.

Picture the “Clifies,” working this way:¹

• Every employee an owner.
• Paid sabbatical leaves of 6 to 8 weeks after seven years.
• If you want, work a flexible schedule to get every other Friday free.
• Get paid for 2.5 hours of workout time each week.
• Bring your pet to work and wear casual clothes.
• Use the in-house concierge service for car washes, laundry, dry cleaning, haircuts, and more.
• Get $6,500 toward a hybrid or bio-diesel automobile.

Why can't more of us find jobs in places like this?

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