CrossComm, Inc. Recognized for Workplace Flexibility and Effectiveness

CrossComm was awarded the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Award in an event hosted by the Durham Chamber of Commerce

badge for 2009 Winner Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace FlexibilityMay 29, 2009 — Durham, NC — CrossComm, Inc. was named a winner of the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility today, distinguishing the employer as a leading practitioner of workplace flexibility in Durham and across the nation. The Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility are awarded as part of the When Work Works project, an ongoing initiative of Families and Work Institute, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Twiga Foundation. Through When Work Works, these partner organizations provide research, resources, and recognition to employers nationwide, and share the results of research on creating effective and flexible workplaces that meet the needs of the 21st century.

The Sloan Awards recognize organizations that are dedicated to making work “work” for both the employer and the employees. Representing employers of all sizes and all types, winners of this prestigious award not only offer excellent workplace flexibility practices, but they also use flexibility as a strategic business tool to enhance organizational effectiveness while also benefiting employees.

CrossComm exemplifies workplace flexibility by giving employees control over their day-to day work in several ways: setting daily hours using flextime, self-directing breaks and work schedules, taking time off during the work day for personal matters, and transitioning between part- and full-time status in response to personal goals. Several employees have elected to work from home on a regular basis, including working from other states (in the past employees have worked from TX, FL, CT, NY, and IL) rather than living near CrossComm’s Durham offices. CrossComm also supports employees in setting their own career development goals, offering the chance to transition between different positions within the company: some recent transitions have been from account management to human resources, account management to business planning and sales, and programming to account management. Less dramatic job changes take place on a regular basis as employees learn new programming languages or other technical skills: there is a work environment of continual innovation. CrossComm’s atmosphere and policies support a healthy balance between work and home.

“As a single working mom I couldn't ask more from a workplace! When my son Eli was born I brought him to work with me for two weeks and he just slept on my desk while I worked. Whether it’s working from home for the day because of sick babies or taking a half day to go to a school party, CrossComm is always willing to accommodate. My needs are more than met and there's always a general concern for the well-being of myself and my family. Knowing other single moms just drives home how lucky I am to work at such a flexible, understanding, and caring place,” said Charity Thompson, CrossComm employee of 4.5 years.

CrossComm would like to congratulate the other local winners of the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility:

  • Durham’s Partnership for Children
  • Expedite Group
  • The Shodor Education Foundation
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • WorkSmart

Applications for the Alfred P. Sloan Awards were open to all organizations in the greater Durham area that had more than 10 employees and had been in business for at least one year. Applicants were evaluated in a rigorous two-step process, first comparing the employer’s application to nationally representative data from Families and Work Institute’s National Study of Employers, and then corroborating the employer responses through a survey of employees. Durham is one of 30 select communities nationwide chosen to host and participate in the When Work Works initiative.

For more information about When Work Works or the Alfred P. Sloan Awards, please contact Shanny Peer at (212) 465-2044 x 224 or at speer@familiesandwork.org.

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About CrossComm

Founded in 1998 and incorporated in 2001, CrossComm, Inc. is a full-service web solutions provider. The majority of CrossComm’s work centers around designing and programming websites, interactive games, identity packages, video productions, web applications, and kiosks. The mission of CrossComm is to use innovative media and technology to communicate ideas and to positively influence the values of today’s generation. For more information, visit www.crosscomm.net.

About When Work Works

When Work Works is a nationwide initiative to highlight the importance of workforce effectiveness and workplace flexibility as strategies to enhance businesses’ competitive advantage in the global economy and yield positive business results. When Work Works is a project of Families and Work Institute in partnership with the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Twiga Foundation, with funding provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. For more information, visit www.whenworkworks.org.

About Families and Work Institute

Families and Work Institute (FWI) is a nonprofit center for research that conducts extensive research on the changing workforce, changing family and changing community. Founded in 1989, FWI’s research typically takes on emerging issues before they crest. The Institute offers some of the most comprehensive research on the U.S. workforce available. For more information, visit www.familiesandwork.org.

About The Institute for a Competitive Workforce

The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ICW promotes high educational standards and effective workforce training systems, so that they are aligned with each other and with today’s rigorous business demands. Through policy initiatives, business outreach, and a strong grassroots network, ICW is finding solutions that will preserve the American workforce as this country’s greatest business asset and its strongest future resource. For more information, visit www.uschamber.com/icw.

About The Twiga Foundation

The Twiga Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, promoting and maintaining a family consciousness at home, in the workplace and in the community. The Twiga Foundation acts as a liaison to key stakeholders in the When Work Works communities to address the issue of flexibility in the workplace. The Foundation helps build a broader leadership constituency for workplace flexibility within each community. For more information, visit www.twigafoundation.org.