Employees: Greatest Asset

From the 25th anniversary W&F History book

Williams & Fudge was created as an agency that adheres to the principles of providing excellent service and whose employees are its greatest asset. Maintaining a professional standard for all employees in regard to how they treat each other, clients, and debtors is the most important benchmark for Williams & Fudge. And these principles will continue into the next generation: David Williams and Alice Williams Davis purchased stock in W&F during 2009 and 2010.

The “Time Bank” concept whereby employees are extended a block of leave with an expectation to manage it appropriately (versus segregated vacation/sick leave time) is a unique concept that has worked well since the early 1990’s, providing flex time to all employees. HR began to offer benefit packages for employees that included health care benefits, disability, 401K opportunities, etc. -- a rare practice during the early 1990’s. Other extras for the staff have included benefit fairs, financial workshops, gym memberships, and on-site Weight Watchers meetings. The “no smoking” policy, begun at Addison Avenue in 2007, not only made employees healthier, but also made (most of) them happier.

The Human Resources department today is in place to continue the quality of the way employees work at W&F and strives to support the total operation by meeting goals through its most valuable resource, W&F employees. This mission is accomplished through recognition, personal development, continuing education, HR software, incentives, and benefits, which all lead to building employee commitment. The formal Mentor program assists the Training department as seasoned, high-performing collectors allow new collectors to shadow them on a routine basis. The Team Apprentice program identifies future leaders and seeks to prepare managers-in-waiting with leadership philosophy and practical administration and leadership training. The Cornerstone Continuing Education Program has formalized training with a variety of classroom topics, including negotiation, skip tracing, unit management, financial stewardship, higher education collection practices, and state/federal collection laws, to name a few.

For the first 15 years, employee birthdays were celebrated individually. In 2011, birthdays are celebrated monthly with cakes, fruit, or other goodies. The first Christmas parties were at Gary and Peggy’s house, and then moved to local restaurants for several years. Now the W&F holiday season kicks off in early December with the annual “Toys for Happiness” Bike Race. Employees purchase and “race” bikes, trikes, and scooters before donating them to local children through the United Way. Employees also draw names and buy a toy that depicts another employee’s personality; these gifts also go to the United Way. The entire staff still gathers for a “grazing” of favorite Christmas foods on the last workday before Christmas. As he has done each of the past 25 years, Gary reads the Christmas Story from the Bible. Employees also get together at Thanksgiving to share a meal and to donate food and money to needy families in the community.  

W&F has made an important impact on the community, especially in the past 10 years, and tries to increase this support every year. The W&F Employee Fund was created in 2008 as a way for employees to pool their money and choose the causes they want to support. In 2010 the Fund donated almost $40,000, as well as another $10,000 in toys and bikes. (The Fund is in addition to W&F corporate contributions.) In addition to financial contributions, many employees volunteer their time with many of the above-mentioned causes and at company-sponsored community festivals and events.

Throughout the past 25 years, employees have leaned on each other in hard times, and the community has counted on W&F to provide support to Boy Scouts, Rock Hill School District Foundation, Children’s Attention Home and School, York County Disabilities Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Cultural and Heritage Commission, numerous art and other cultural events, and many, many more worthy causes. W&F proudly partners with local schools by purchasing and installing playground equipment, providing volunteers and mentors for children, awarding grants to teachers, providing funds for special programs and projects, and buying and packaging food for students who have no food on weekends. Employees have raised funds following natural disasters, especially when they have affected employee or client families or schools.

W&F was the 1st place winner in the mid-size category for the Best Places to work in collections first during 2009-2010.  Each year they continue to receive this award.