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| UnCommon Sense Case Studies - Refuge Sustainable B |
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REFUGE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CENTER
Retail Store for Sustainable Building Materials, Bozeman, MT
http://www.refugebuilding.com
Reasons for Applying
For Dave Schaub, co-owner of Refuge Sustainable Building Center in
Bozeman, joining the first class of UnCommon Sense was a way to help
the Yellowstone Business Partnership kick off this new and innovative
program. While he recognized that there’s always room for
improvement in business, he mainly expected the program to be a good
networking opportunity. After all, his small business already offered
sustainable building materials, and he and his partner were well-versed
on energy conservation and how to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Benefits Received
While his business did not go through any dramatic changes like some of
the other businesses in the class, Schaub’s
“ah-ha” moment came during the Social Investment
Module. While the mission of the business had always included community
education and charitable involvement, this module in particular gave
him the structure and tools to more effectively manage his employees.
As a small business still in start-up mode, Refuge Sustainable Building
Center is not able to offer its employees the generous wages and
benefits of more established businesses. Nevertheless, two internal
changes have made working at Refuge more enjoyable and meaningful for
employees. First, Refuge started performing 360-degree evaluations,
which gives employees more accurate picture of their work performance
ased on feedback from managers and peer employees. This process also
lets them know that their experience and observations while at work
really matter. Second, Refuge started an employee-driven community
involvement project. Encouraged to create a way for the business to
give back to the community, employees developed a quarterly granting
program in which Refuge donates sustainable building materials to a
local non-profit for use in their own building or to use with
fundraisers. So far, employees at Refuge have selected the awardees
through two rounds of granting, which Schaub believes has given them a
greater sense of ownership in the business
Bottom Line Results
• Improved employee management
and retention in a business climate where lower-paying jobs see higher
turnover
CLICK
HERE TO SEE THEIR FINAL REPORT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
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