It has always been taught that companies need to put the customers before anything and everything! It is true that customers are important and are how companies make money. However, customers should not be first on the priority list. Employees need to be number one on the priority list. The reason is that if the employees are happy, the customers will be happy as well. If an employee is well taken cared of, they will be happy and there will be a positive work culture. If there is a positive work culture, employees will be kind, polite, helpful, and courteous towards the customers.
A perfect example of a company that prioritizes its employees, which in turns benefits the customers is Costco. Even though Costco is not the largest retailer in its industry, Costco still outperforms Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Target and other retailers. Costco has one of the best benefits packages in its specific industry. In addition to the employee being covered, benefits can also choose to cover their children and spouse with the same benefits. Benefits that Costco employees have are health care, dental care, a pharmacy program, a vision program, a 401k plan, a care network, voluntary short-term disability coverage, long-term disability, coverage, an employee stock purchase plan, a health care reimbursement account, and long-term care insurance. Since employees are clearly taken cared of at Costco, Costco employees work to the best of their abilities. Employees are the most valuable asset and resource to any company and Costco does a great job and taking care of employees.
Many companies can learn from Costco and from Virgin. It is vital to take care of employees. Employees complete the day to day tasks and they are the ones who work with customers. If employees are happy, customers will be happy and therefore the business will thrive, which will make shareholders happy.
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