Team Member Perspective

98% of employees prefer a remote or hybrid workplace.  Working remotely allows employees to save time and frustration by eliminating commutes, reducing wear on their car, and saving money on childcare, wardrobes, fuel, parking, and meals.  Studies estimate that employees save an average of $7,000 a year by telecommuting.

At Excelas, working remotely also provides staff with flexibility as to when they work, allowing them to independently manage their work schedules while meeting client expectations and deadlines.  Regular meetings and reporting obligations ensure client commitments are met, while individual day-to-day time management allows staff to meet personal and family obligations.

Excelas has consistently been recognized as a top employer, with several consecutive years of awards including the Northcoast 99, a program honoring great workplaces in Northeast Ohio, When Work Works, Best Employers in Ohio, and Best & Brightest (National Association for Business Resources) in the nation.

Company Perspective

Along with eliminating costs associated with rent, utilities, insurance, cleaning services, and maintenance, Excelas has experienced a positive impact on recruiting and retention because of its flexible workplace.  Excelas has tremendous employee retention rates – less than 5% turnover year over year, and an average tenure of 12 years.

Effective job design sets clear expectations during the hiring process, which is supported by assessments and tools to determine the fit of candidates.  New hires may not have experience working 100% from home in an autonomous environment.  Onboarding materials immerse new hires in Excelas’ culture and values even before an employee’s first day.  New hires follow a detailed orientation schedule which includes virtual meetings with each manager and executive to gain a clear understanding of the company, culture, services/products, and the roles and responsibilities of each person.  All new hires have a designated mentor and scheduled meetings to review progress.  This level of engagement from the managers, mentor, and team members facilitates efficient and effective training, allowing new employees to be “up to speed” early in their tenure.

Performance metrics established for each role within the company are used to ensure that remote employees are meeting expectations.  With minimal supervision, the team performs at consistently high levels of productivity and quality.  This high level of performance is driven by individual experience and expertise, along with the autonomy and flexibility staff are given to complete their work when they feel most productive.

Regular meetings promote engagement and accountability with detailed agendas, opportunities for interpersonal interaction, active participation by all attendees, review of key performance indicators, and sharing of achievements, concerns, and successes.  Staff meetings often include presentations by Excelas’ clients and other professionals such as pharmacists, dietitians, insurance adjusters, financial advisors, yoga instructors, professional organizers, life coaches, and other wellness and inspirational speakers to enhance professional knowledge and overall well-being.

Beyond scheduled meetings, the company has several tools to help employees feel appreciated and included in decision-making, including, but not limited to:

• An intranet that houses company communications, peer recognition, forms, and information on upcoming events
• A monthly Exchange Survey that solicits anonymous questions and suggestions
• Stay interviews
• Brainstorming sessions
• Performance previews
• One-to-one meetings
• An annual Excelas Rounded Feedback & Engagement Survey

It is a priority at Excelas to “ask, assess, and act.”  This creates confidence within the team to provide honest and timely feedback that can be used to drive change and innovation.  Although the work time is 100% remote, the team does gather in person for holidays, the company anniversary party, and other events.

With this combination of proprietary, web-based technology, the standardization of processes, procedures and training, and the commitment to staff engagement and appreciation, Excelas accomplished Jean’s initial vision from 19 years ago of providing quality services to clients while affording her team balance and flexibility.

Excelas is proud to be part of the 16% of U.S. companies that are fully remote and operate without a physical office.  Forbes notes these companies are “pioneers in the remote work paradigm, highlighting the feasibility of such models and paving the way for others to follow.”  Excelas is a nimble and responsive organization, which fully embraces flexibility as part of a business strategy, rather than an afterthought.