Money can't buy happiness - but community service will make you feel darned good about yourself. That's why Linda Valdez decided not to have a big, expensive party to celebrate
her firm's 20th anniversary. Instead, the executive VP and co-owner of the San Antonio-based Regnier, Valdez & Associates will close up shop once a quarter this year to
dedicate time to local service projects. Employees spent this quarter's service day landscaping a local park, and other planned activities include service at an animal shelter and
school for the deaf. Valdez agrees that such extra-curricular activities promote teamwork and are a great retention tool, because, well, employees want to stay with an employer
that gives them a warm-and-fuzzy feeling.
Richard Laermer wanted so much to do the same for his employees that he decided to give them an entire week to be involved in community service. The CEO of RLM Communications,
a New York City-based firm specializing in Web companies, got an epiphany when many of his clients started going bust last April. "We were spinning - and I'm talking about our
heads not our PR strategy," he says. "It occurred to me that no one had time to do anything [service-related] outside of work.
So Laermer gives employees a week, in addition to vacation, to spend at any one of 25 area charities. Employees spend Monday-Wednesday of their service week on-site, and
Laermer gives them Thursday and Friday off to "meditate" on what they learned. Although he encourages employees not to do anything PR-related, one person wrote the PR plan for
Angelwish.org, a well-known Web site that grants the wishes of kids with aids. "Lots of people who've done it have thought it would be difficult," says Laermer. "And they come
back saying it was the best things they've ever done." (Valdez, 210/828-8224; Laermer 212 741-5106)