🚚 Free Shipping Offers For A Limited Time Only! Click Here To View The Best Offers!

The Importance of Making Friends at Work

Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

Shari's Berries

Sent on 30 June 2024 02:04 PM

The average American spends a significant portion of their life at work, clocking in about 90,000 hours over the course of a career the equivalent of 10 very full years! Most people do it, of course, to earn a paycheck. But workplaces are also social spaces where we connect with other people.

In fact, were more likely to make friends at work than through any other means, including school, our neighborhoods, places of worship, or even through the networks of existing friends, according to the Survey Center on American Life.

Work is good for relationships, and having friends at work is good for business. Data from Gallup indicates that having a best friend at work is closely associated with increased profitability, enhanced safety, and higher employee retention.

I believe one of the biggest challenges for companies is creating an environment where people not only want to come to work, but also stay long enough to develop beneficial relationships. So, whats the secret to longevity in the workplace? It all comes back to creating an environment where friendships can flourish.

A visit to Medford

I got a taste of the role of friendship in workplace longevity when I spoke with co-workers during a recent visit to the headquarters of Harry & David in Medford, Oregon. The company, which 1-800-Flowers.com acquired in 2014, is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year!

More than 260 current employees have been with Harry & David for 20 years or more. To put that in perspective, the average length of time employees spend with one company, per a 2022 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is just over 4 years. When I spoke with them during my visit, they told me about the importance of career growth opportunities and a strong company culture. But, above all, they spoke about friendships.

Lana Hyde is a case in point. She started at Harry & David 40 years ago and worked her way up to her current job in manufacturing planning. Back when she first started, the company was primarily a mail-order business. As the company changed, so did Lanas responsibilities. She explains:

I dealt with the physical mail orders that would come in from the post office. And we would have people that would handle each order by hand, so you knew who placed the order, who the recipient was, and whether they wanted a greeting card added. Those days are long gone since people no longer send in paper orders with a check!

Lana attributes her longevity not just to career advancement opportunities:

It's just a great place to work. It's like family, and you get to meet a lot of people who become friends. And I'm proud to work here.

A family affair

The word family came up quite often in my conversations. It reminded me of how both Harry & David and 1-800-Flowers.com got their starts as family businesses. (The brothers Harry and David Holmes founded their namesake company after taking over their fathers orchard.)

Many of the employees spoke of how their co-workers were like extended family. But for more than a few, the co-workers were actual family!

Julie Tuter, a senior merchandise manager who has been with the company for 26 years, met her husband on the Medford campus.

Meeting my husband, of course, is one of the reasons that I love Harry & David so much. And over the years, Ive also met my best friends with many still here. We formed really strong relationships they are family now.

Julie also explained that living in Medford helps bring everyone together. The city of 90,000 is nestled in the heart of the picturesque Rogue Valley. Surrounded by the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges, Medford is a vibrant community known for its lush greenery, rolling vineyards, and orchards that burst with pear blossoms in the spring.

I think what's unique is you have a group of people that grew up here in and around Medford, and because of that, and because Rogue Valley is small, you really get to know everyone you work with. And as a result, you all become family.

Community bonds

Dianne Strong-Summerhays, a senior director of customer experience who has been with Harry & David for 22 years, takes community involvement a step further. Shes a member of two bands, both comprised of Harry & David teammates.

I asked Dianne how people respond when shes performing and mentions that everyone is from Harry & David. The response from the audience is always positive thanks to Medfords relatively small size, she explains.

Theres definitely a connection. They either worked here, or they know somebody that works here, or their parents worked here, or they work here now. The attitude people have toward Harry & David is how everyone feels connected to the company since we are such a vital part of the community.

During my career, Ive seen the benefits of having friends in the workplace, whether theyre colleagues, business partners, or clients. But the longest-serving employees take it to a whole new level.

The stories I heard in Medford highlight the fact that when employees feel valued and connect, they thrive along with the business. Its an important lesson for bosses and business leaders alike: The secret to a successful life and business lies in people and the relationships they build.

All the best,

Jim

Ninety years ago, brothers Harry and David Holmes embarked on a mission to share their exquisite Royal Riviera Pears with the world. Since then, people all over the country have celebrated holidays and life events with these delicious Comice pears and many other gifts.

In this weeks episode of Celebrations Chatter, you can hear all the conversations I had with the remarkable and long-tenured team members at Harry & David. They share personal stories, what working at the company means to them, their favorite products, and their hopes for the future.

Join us in celebrating this unique milestone for a heritage brand that has stood the test of time.Listen to the full episode and share your thoughts about Harry & David and workplace longevity at .

Happy Fourth!

On Thursday, our nation marks its 248th birthday, and its a chance for all of us to celebrate our shared values, ideals, and freedom. The Fourth of July is packed with community rituals and traditions like parades and fireworks all great opportunities to reach out and connect with your fellow celebrants.

Theres another common thread to all July Fourth celebrations: food. Even if it rains on the parades and fireworks shows, there are always the hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, and blueberry pies to help us celebrate.

My colleagues at 1-800-Flowers.com, Harry & David, and Vital Choice put together some tips and recipes to help you celebrate the Fourth. I hope some of these ideas become part of your family traditions.

Halfway to 2025: A resolution check-up

As the calendar flips to July, we find ourselves at the midpoint of the year a great time to reflect on the past six months and assess the progress weve made towards the goals we made for ourselves at the start of the year.

If you find that youve fallen short, theres still time to get back on track. And dont forget: Bigger goals do take time, and we need to acknowledge that success might take a new strategy and perhaps even a few more years.

If you resolved to build stronger relationships this year, consider creating and following a connections calendar. Its a written plan listing the people you want to connect with, and Ive found it very useful in strengthening my own relationships.

How are you doing with all your resolutions? Whats your outlook for the second half of the year? Share your stories with me and Ill provide a community progress report in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse.

Security & Privacy | Manage Email Preferences | Terms of Offer | Unsubscribe

This email was sent to on 06/30/2024
2024 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. Two Jericho PlazaSuite 200 Jericho, NY, 11753, USA

View as webpage

Text Summary Of This Email

Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

Logo

celebrations pulse

In fact, were more likely to make friends at work than through any other means, including school, our neighborhoods, places of worship, or even through the networks of existing friends, according to the Survey Center on American Life.

Work is good for relationships, and having friends at work is good for business. Data from Gallup indicates that having a best friend at work is closely associated with increased profitability, enhanced safety, and higher employee retention.

I believe one of the biggest challenges for companies is creating an environment where people not only want to come to work, but also stay long enough to develop beneficial relationships. So, whats the secret to longevity in the workplace? It all comes back to creating an environment where friendships can flourish.

A visit to MedfordI got a taste of the role of friendship in workplace longevity when I spoke with co-workers during a recent visit to the headquarters of Harry & David in Medford, Oregon. The company, which 1-800-Flowers.com acquired in 2014, is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year!

More than 260 current employees have been with Harry & David for 20 years or more. To put that in perspective, the average length of time employees spend with one company, per a 2022 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is just over 4 years. When I spoke with them during my visit, they told me about the importance of career growth opportunities and a strong company culture. But, above all, they spoke about friendships.

I dealt with the physical mail orders that would come in from the post office. And we would have people that would handle each order by hand, so you knew who placed the order, who the recipient was, and whether they wanted a greeting card added. Those days are long gone since people no longer send in paper orders with a check!

Lana attributes her longevity not just to career advancement opportunities:

It's just a great place to work. It's like family, and you get to meet a lot of people who become friends. And I'm proud to work here.

A family affair

The word family came up quite often in my conversations. It reminded me of how both Harry & David and 1-800-Flowers.com got their starts as family businesses. (The brothers Harry and David Holmes founded their namesake company after taking over their fathers orchard.)

Many of the employees spoke of how their co-workers were like extended family. But for more than a few, the co-workers were actual family!

Julie Tuter, a senior merchandise manager who has been with the company for 26 years, met her husband on the Medford campus.

Meeting my husband, of course, is one of the reasons that I love Harry & David so much. And over the years, Ive also met my best friends with many still here. We formed really strong relationships they are family now.

I think what's unique is you have a group of people that grew up here in and around Medford, and because of that, and because Rogue Valley is small, you really get to know everyone you work with. And as a result, you all become family.

Community bonds

Dianne Strong-Summerhays, a senior director of customer experience who has been with Harry & David for 22 years, takes community involvement a step further. Shes a member of two bands, both comprised of Harry & David teammates.

I asked Dianne how people respond when shes performing and mentions that everyone is from Harry & David. The response from the audience is always positive thanks to Medfords relatively small size, she explains.

Theres definitely a connection. They either worked here, or they know somebody that works here, or their parents worked here, or they work here now. The attitude people have toward Harry & David is how everyone feels connected to the company since we are such a vital part of the community.

During my career, Ive seen the benefits of having friends in the workplace, whether theyre colleagues, business partners, or clients. But the longest-serving employees take it to a whole new level.

The stories I heard in Medford highlight the fact that when employees feel valued and connect, they thrive along with the business. Its an important lesson for bosses and business leaders alike: The secret to a successful life and business lies in people and the relationships they build.

All the best,

Jim

Chris

Shop 1-800-Flowers.com

In this weeks episode of Celebrations Chatter, you can hear all the conversations I had with the remarkable and long-tenured team members at Harry & David. They share personal stories, what working at the company means to them, their favorite products, and their hopes for the future.

Join us in celebrating this unique milestone for a heritage brand that has stood the test of time.Listen to the full episode and share your thoughts about Harry & David and workplace longevity at .

Happy Fourth!

On Thursday, our nation marks its 248th birthday, and its a chance for all of us to celebrate our shared values, ideals, and freedom. The Fourth of July is packed with community rituals and traditions like parades and fireworks all great opportunities to reach out and connect with your fellow celebrants.

Theres another common thread to all July Fourth celebrations: food. Even if it rains on the parades and fireworks shows, there are always the hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, and blueberry pies to help us celebrate.

My colleagues at 1-800-Flowers.com, Harry & David, and Vital Choice put together some tips and recipes to help you celebrate the Fourth. I hope some of these ideas become part of your family traditions.

Celebrations Pulse

Halfway to 2025: A resolution check-up

As the calendar flips to July, we find ourselves at the midpoint of the year a great time to reflect on the past six months and assess the progress weve made towards the goals we made for ourselves at the start of the year.

If you find that youve fallen short, theres still time to get back on track. And dont forget: Bigger goals do take time, and we need to acknowledge that success might take a new strategy and perhaps even a few more years.

If you resolved to build stronger relationships this year, consider creating and following a connections calendar. Its a written plan listing the people you want to connect with, and Ive found it very useful in strengthening my own relationships.

How are you doing with all your resolutions? Whats your outlook for the second half of the year? Share your stories with me and Ill provide a community progress report in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse.

The Importance of Making Friends at Work

Text Summary Of This Email

Latest Promos, Deals And Discounts From Shari's Berries

More Emails And Deals For You