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Appreciating employees is a core value
at 45-year-old Santa Cruz-based headset
maker Plantronics Inc.; it’s one reason
many employees have been with
the company for decades, and why a
few who left have come back.
The company’s results-driven business
approach, communications knowhow
and innovative spirit make it a
workplace rife with career opportunities,
employees say. The company’s affirming
culture also is reflected in the
numerous rewards it offers, including
profit sharing for full-time employees,
401(k) and stock purchase plans, generous
leave (three weeks vacation for new
hires), and scheduling flexibility that allows
associates time to enjoy the beautiful
California coast.
Additional perks include up to
$3,000 a year in tuition assistance, depending
on an employee’s grades,
on-site massages and a companysponsored
cafeteria that serves locally
grown, organic foods.
The company’s responsiveness to
the needs of its employees goes a long
way toward fostering high-level performance
and loyalty.
“I’ve told Ken he’s going to have to
take me out of here feet first,” says 25-
year veteran Mike Erbe, director, specials, referring to President and CEO
Ken Kannappan. Erbe enjoys competing
in a dynamic industry at a company
that has grown dramatically, and
that helps keep work new and exciting.
“My work is fun because it’s different
every day,” he says. “There’s still a sense
of exploration working here.”
Nick Eisner, product management
director, says that in his 10 years with
Plantronics he has been able to work
on every type of product the company
makes. Equally important to him, he
has also been able to serve as an active
single father to his two sons. “I came
here looking for stability and a familyfriendly
environment, and I found a
comfortable, positive place to work,”
Eisner says.
It’s the mix of dedication and fun
that has made Plantronics a much
sought-after employer since its founding
in 1961. Since then, the company
has moved beyond its initial focus on
aviation electronics to become a leading
maker of personal communications
products. One of the proudest
moments for the company came in
1969 when its headset carried Neil
Armstrong’s historic first words from
the moon: “That’s one small step for
man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The company’s role in promoting
communications has helped make it a
workplace where ideas flow and feedback
is encouraged. At monthly town
hall meetings, associates receive critical
information, hear about new initiatives,
and receive recognition for their
service and successes.
While such employee communication
is highly valued, it’s the company’s ethics
that employees hold in highest regard.
“No one here loses sleep worried
about the integrity of the company, and
that starts at the top. There’s a lot of
trust in how we do business,” says Don
Houston, senior vice president, sales.
Through employees, the company
extends its concern for others to the
community and the environment. Since
1997, employees have donated 1.2 million
pounds of food to a local food bank.
In April, the company opened a factory
in China that is the first facility in that
country to be certified as meeting voluntary
standards for reducing electricity
and water usage.
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Video Profile: Plantronics 