Helping employees help themselves - NOVA Corp's Employment Transition & Continuity program - includes related article on audit results of the program

HR Magazine, August, 1997 by Arnold H. Wensky, Susan M. Galer

Chief among the benefits of the ET&C program is its responsiveness to diverse employee circumstances. In addition to the three primary options - business, education and community support - participants can select from the following offerings:

* Relocation assistance: Employees like Trojanowski can "go where the jobs are." Employees who move at least 25 miles from their current address are eligible for a $5,000 grant.

* Unrestricted leaves of absence: Employees can take from six months to a year off to travel, relax or try out a new job at another company. If there is no position available at NOVA when the unpaid leave of absence expires, the employee receives a severance package and is eligible to participate in the ET&C program.

* Skills upgrades: Employees who attend school part-time, or who don't meet other eligibility requirements for the Education Option, can still obtain an education with the company's financial assistance. Through the Skills Upgrade option, NOVA pays a maximum of $5,000 toward costs related to training for employees and their spouses to gain marketable skills.

NOT A FAD

After three years in operation, the ET&C program is an integral component of the benefits package for NOVA Corp. employees. Senior-level management says that it is not a temporary program, but a career transition process the corporation will offer indefinitely.

Sheila O'Brien, senior vice president of people for NOVA Corp., points out, "It's not enough to tell people they must take control of their own lives. To adapt quickly in response to change, both the company and our employees require the ongoing network of support that the ET&C program provides - resources, tools and opportunities that will meet our needs today and in the future."

Perhaps the program's greatest strength lies in its ability to give employees some measure of resilience to weather rapid change. By converting continuous change into flexible opportunities, the ET&C program makes learning and growth a strategic advantage.

RELATED ARTICLE: AUDITING RESULTS

Counting on Success

An independent audit conducted by Management Designs Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, documented NOVA employees participation and response to the Employment Transition & continuity (ET&C) program as of October 1996.

Employee Participation

Option                               Participants

Entrepreneurial Venture                  419

3-Month Search Period/
Temporary Project Assignment             272

Severance                                231

Community Support                         45

Relocation Assistance                     45

Education                                 35

Unrestricted Leave of Absence             19

Skills Upgrade                            18

Results of 238 surveyed employees who participated in the ET&C program

Employee's perceptions of company:

* 90% agreed they had the necessary resources to leave the company.

* 85% felt they were treated fairly while working at NOVA.

* 84% believed they were treated fairly and with respect.