Michelin North America Inc.

Winning Years: 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005
Industry: Rubber, Glass, Stone and Plastic Products
Location: Greenville, S.C.
Website: www.michelin-us.com

The long average tenure of employees age 50 and over (24.71 years) is a strong indication of how employees value Michelin as a workplace. Michelin recently launched a new interactive retiree forum website that provides retirees with a convenient way to stay Michelin informed. Retirees can use the site to reconnect with other retirees, catch up on company news, access benefits information and express interest in returning to work.

See also: How the 2011 Best Employers winners were selected.

Additional Policies and Practices:

Recruiting: Michelin targets mature workers at military career fairs, and the Michelin Retiree website is also used to find potential hires.
 
Workplace Culture / Continued Opportunities: Employees working 20 or more hours per week are offered in-house classroom training and online training programs while those working 40 or more hours per week are offered tuition reimbursement and certification classes.

Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties, awards, gifts and free tires.

Feedback from employee engagement surveys led Michelin to incorporate numerous changes to its policies and programs including offering clearer communication on specific health care plan provisions, streamlining health enrollment guide from a 36-page to a 4-page document, and offering a Health Benefits fair with on-site, personal assistance as well as group informational sessions on choosing a health care plan, deductibles and FSA accounts.

Employees have opportunities to gain new experiences by working on temporary assignments in other departments, on team projects, and by participating in a formal job rotation program. One unique program offered to senior level management, Accelerating Performance Through Diversity, provides education on diversity and identifies areas where improvements can be made. Specifically, teams work on projects and give recommendations to Michelin leaders on how to attract and retain diverse candidates, increase engagement and evolve policies.

Workspace adaptations are made for employees by providing lift devices, anti-fatigue mats for employees with limited standing capabilities, special tools and platforms for employees with reach limitations and special lighted alerts for employees with hearing limitations. Employees are also offered job rotations for those in need of less demanding daily responsibilities.

Michelin provides additional office area accommodations that include larger computer monitors for employees with visual impairment and special phone systems for employees with audio impairment. Ergonomics Teams regularly evaluate employee workstations and make modifications when necessary.
 
Benefits/Health: Employees working 20 or more hours per week receive individual and family medical and prescription drug coverage while full-time employees working 40 or more hours per week are additionally eligible for individual and family vision and dental insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability. Employees working 30 or more hours per week are eligible for individual and family long-term care insurance.

Health benefits for retirees  include individual and spouse medical and drug coverage, individual and spouse vision and dental coverage, individual and spouse long-term care insurance, services of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), as well as individual and spouse life insurance or other death benefit coverage.

New hires are eligible for all of the above benefits upon retirement.

Michelin also provides retirees with catastrophic medical and prescription drug coverage at no cost once the retiree or dependent(s) reaches their annual out of pocket limit.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs.

Next: Free pre-retirement seminars, flexible work schedules. >>