Farbman Group / Nai Farbman Honored With Alfred P. Sloan Award

Oct. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- SOUTHFIELD, Mich.—Farbman Group / NAI Farbman—a full-service real estate firm – today announced the company has been named the recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in the Workplace for the third consecutive year.  The announcement was made by Farbman Group President and CEO Andrew V. Farbman.

The Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility is a component of When Work Works, a national project on workplace effectiveness and flexibility from the Families and Work Institute in partnership with The Institute for a Competitive Workforce, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Twiga Foundation.

Applications are evaluated in a two-step process that measures an employer’s workplace flexibility programs, policies and culture against national data from the Families and Work Institute’s National Study of Employers, and then validates these with employee input.

“Workplace flexibility is a priority for us when it comes to our employees,” said Farbman.  “Ensuring a better overall quality of life, while also establishing a balance between personal and work time, not only make Farbman Group team members happier, they also produce a better work environment.”

Farbman Group / NAI Farbman was recognized, in part, for its willingness to offer accommodating work schedules, part-time employment and the ability to integrate family into the workplace, resulting in a high employee retention rate. The company also offers staff the ability to work from home and supports the pursuit of higher education through flex time hours.  

Job sharing, another viable opportunity the company offers its team members, is another reason the company has been named a workplace of excellence.  A job-sharing arrangement is a form of permanent part-time work, where two employees share the responsibility, hours, salary and benefits of one full-time job.  

Farbman Group / NAI Farbman’s programs seek to create a solid foundation of and for permanent employees.

“The benefits of creating a flexible work environment extend far beyond the obvious,” said Kristin Higginbotham Director of Human Resources. “Because of our innovative approach to a ‘typical’ work day schedule, our company is able to implement best matches between workloads and staffing.  We also can generate a diverse workforce.”


ABOUT FAMILIES AND WORK INSTITUTE
Families and Work Institute (FWI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that studies the changing workforce, family and community. As a preeminent think tank, FWI is known for being ahead of the curve, identifying emerging issues, and then conducting rigorous research that often challenges common wisdom and provides insight and knowledge.  As an action tank, FWI conducts numerous studies that put its research into action and then evaluates the results. Its purpose is to create research to live by. For more information, see www.familiesandwork.org.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is working to ensure that businesses have access—today and tomorrow—to an educated and skilled workforce. ICW’s primary responsibilities for the When Work Works project are to provide support to the communities and connect local initiatives to national Chamber efforts.  For more information, visit www.uschamber.com/icw

ABOUT THE TWIGA FOUNDATION
The Twiga Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, promoting and maintaining a family consciousness at home, in the workplace and in the community. Twiga’s primary responsibilities for the When Work Works project are to provide support to the communities, acting as a liaison to key stakeholders in the When Work Works communities to build a broad local leadership constituency for creating better workplaces that meet the needs of employees, employers and communities.  For more information, visit www.twigafoundation.org

ABOUT FARBMAN GROUP / NAI FARBMAN
Founded in 1976, Farbman Group / NAI Farbman is a leading full-service real estate organization handling all facets of real estate transactions, from property management and leasing to acquisition and disposition.

Today, Farbman is one of the largest and most respected full service organizations in the Midwest.  The firm manages more than 20 million square feet of office, retail, multi-family and industrial space throughout Southeast Michigan and is recognized as a leading commercial management and brokerage firm by clientele. For more information, please visit www.Farbman.com and www.NAIFarbman.com.