WAIPAHU, Hawai‘i — Established by military veterans in 1980, Bowers + Kubota’s employees are widely dispersed throughout Hawai‘i and the Pacific Rim. These employees, at the heart of B + K’s architecture and engineering business, are recognized by leadership as its greatest value.
Commitment to employees begins on the first day. All new employees are assigned a coach to help them ease the transition into the company for the first six months. At the new hire pa‘u hana (gathering), the firm’s principals informally connect the new staff, who can experience the B + K culture first hand.
Employees are encouraged to participate in the company’s many committees, which range from strategic planning for the organization to community service to wellness. This type of collaboration created the Wellness Health Individual Program (Whip It), B + K’s award-winning, employee-run wellness program in effect for eight years.
Whip It is a popular web-based program that allows employees to accumulate points each week based on choices related to body maintenance, fitness and exercise, nutrition and behavioral health. Incentives and a little friendly competition help to make wellness fun, so participation levels are high and have remained steady, ranging from 65 to 70 percent, even as the firm has doubled in size.
The company-designed, self-directed work teams ensure continuity, so team members can have flexibility to take care of their personal or family needs. Employees bring their children to work, take flex time, telecommute and can take additional time off when necessary to care for family or themselves and transition back to work. B + K has a low turnover rate, with high productivity and a solid financial base.
High ratings on client evaluations over the past 10 years and exceptional working relationships with clients can be attributed to employees who are healthy, have positive attitudes and make meaningful contributions to the company.
Bowers + Kubota: Waipahu, Hawai‘i
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Additional workplace practices
Health and Safety
Standing desks, standing/walking meetings, 30-day wellness challenges.
Employee Recognition
Rewards for achieving high scores on client evaluations.
Employee Growth and Development
- Evaluation process focused on development and coaching.
- Internal trainings and classes led by certified or expert in-house staff members.
Work-life Balance
Outcomes
- Employee retention rate of 90 percent in 2018.
- Wellness program has decreased the use of the firm’s health plans and lowered health insurance rates.
- Other awards include Hawai‘i Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work for nine years and Healthiest Place to Work for six years.