Who: Sequoia Communications
What: Leverages corporate culture as a competitive advantage
Results: Voluntary turnover is 4 percent, compared with an industry rate at least double that. Ninety percent of surveyed employees report that the company is a good place to work, they would recommend the company to a friend, and they trust management.
From free meals and snacks to challenging work, Sequoia Communications strives to create a culture that helps its 57 employees—and the company itself—perform at their peak.
“Our company is built on innovation,” says Anna Kochka, director of HR for Sequoia (www.sequoiacommunications.com), a fabless RF semiconductor company that says it is setting new benchmarks in multimode design and integration.
Cutting-Edge Opportunities Differentiate Company
Faced with the high cost of living near its San Diego headquarters, a national decline in the number of engineers, and a growing market, Sequoia goes above and beyond to attract top engineering talent, challenge them, and retain them, she says.
On its career Web page, Sequoia says it offers engineers the opportunity “to contribute and participate in the development of groundbreaking new designs in the RF field.”
The company also touts its “competitive benefits, continued growth and learning opportunities, and a work environment that demonstrates appreciation, consideration, respect, values teamwork, and rewards individual contribution. We work hard together, have fun together, and are committed to winning together!”
Founded in 2002, the company has made a concerted effort to create a “high-performance culture,” Kochka says. “What really differentiates us from larger companies is really pushing the technical envelope.”
In its attempt to be “innovative and change agile,” the company is open to ideas from its employees and encourages them to take risks and to learn from mistakes, according to Kochka.
“The role of the manager here is to set people up for success” by giving them the tools and resources they need to succeed, Kochka maintains.
That includes training, opportunities for advancement, and clear expectations outlined in a performance management system that is aligned with the organization’s business strategy.
Sequoia also provides ways for its employees to unwind and get to know their co-workers better by participating in an on-site yoga program, playing ping-pong or foosball in a game room, or enjoying free breakfasts, soft drinks, snacks, and dinner—as well as on-site massage therapy and free gourmet meals during a peak business period. Several employees are also involved in cycling, running, or hiking clubs together.
Sequoia leverages its culture as a competitive advantage when recruiting engineers and strives to develop an employment brand that sends a clear message about what it is like to work at the company, according to Kochka.
However, its culture also serves as a competitive advantage by creating a positive work environment where employees’ energy is focused on innovation and strategy execution, she says.
This spring, Sequoia was named a second-place winner in the Growing-Size Companies category in Employers Group “California’s Best Places to Work” program.
Sequoia scored above other companies with respect to employee voice and workplace culture, pay, turnover, benefits, perks and incentives, training, and opportunities for advancement.
All employees surveyed as part of the award process reported being satisfied with their pay, while 90 percent indicated that they think Sequoia is a good place to work, would recommend the company to friends, feel good about their benefits package, trust management to do what’s best, believe that management considers employee interests when making decisions, know what is expected of them, feel that they have opportunities at work to develop their skills, and have the tools they need to do their job right.
In addition, Kochka reports that voluntary turnover at Sequoia is 4 percent, compared with an industry rate at least double that.
Tips to Consider
Employers that want to create a positive corporate culture should consider the following tips: