Huber, Ring, Helm & Co., P.C.
St. Louis, Missouri
Established in 1965
http://www.hrh-advantage.com
Work/Life Balance Award: Medium-Sized Firm/Company Category
These awards honor firms and companies that promote an effective balance between employees’ personal and professional commitments. Nominated organizations are selected based on their progressive and innovative policies that promote flexibility and positively impact work/life balance. The Medium-Sized Firm/Company category honors organizations with 50-150 employees.
Huber Ring Helm & Co., P.C. (HRH) places an extremely high priority on creating policies, as well as an overall culture, that encourage and empower employees to achieve a positive work/life balance.
Last spring, HRH introduced their innovative “Freedom Fridays” program, offering a four-day workweek from June 1 through November 30. The firm leaders recognized how hard their employees work during tax season, and they decided to create an opportunity for staff to achieve a beneficial work/life balance during the other months. If for some reason an employee must work on a Friday, he or she then gets a "rollover Monday," taking off the following Monday instead. The firm also offers flexible scheduling, telecommuting, and part-time or reduced-hours schedules, even during tax season.
Lisa Shorkey, audit senior, is grateful that the flexibility offered at HRH allows her to care for her special-needs child. Freedom Fridays give her a chance to spend more time with her family and attend to her son’s healthcare needs. “HRH’s policies are priceless in my opinion, and they prove that public accounting and life, with all its challenges, can coexist happily together,” says Shorkey.
HRH’s CPA Credential Policy provides compensated study time up to 25 hours per section at the office during business hours; reimbursement of review course, exam and licensure fees; plus a bonus when a staff member receives his or her CPA license. This program provides employees with much-needed support to help them achieve an important career goal, while maintaining a balanced life.
The firm also boasts a mentoring program with quarterly lunch meetings (off site and confidential), which are paid for by the firm; a pre-tax dependent care program; and a flexible Paid Time Off policy rather than designated sick and vacation days.
During tax season, the firm provides a variety of scheduled meals, surprise snacks, weekly Saturday gift certificate drawings, and “Fish Fridays” meals delivered to the office for those observing Lent. Should an employee need to make use of it, flexible time and working from home remain options, even during tax season. To recognize the stress families also face during busy season, HRH sends personal notes to each employee’s family to thank them for sharing their loved one with the firm for the last few months.
“At Huber, Ring, Helm & Co., we know our employees are our most valuable asset,” says Thom Helm, principal, president & CEO. “That’s why we continuously strive to promote a mindset and develop policies that help employees achieve the best possible balance they can between work and their very important lives beyond our walls.”