Celebrating Workplace Best Practices: FORUM Exemplifies Going the Extra Mile

The 2012 Best Places to Work in Indiana companies (70 in total) will be honored at an awards dinner at the Indiana Roof Ballroom tonight. Many practices go into creating a positive work culture – one of them is fostering teamwork and fellowship, which can be achieved many ways.

For FORUM Credit Union, a first-time honoree, that often takes the shape of giving back to the local community in Hamilton County.

An internal group, FORUM Spirit, coordinates activities and the staff votes on the charity of choice for an entire year.

They once bought a van and packed it full of supplies for the Dayspring Center (a family homeless shelter). The nine FORUM board members also contribute.

“That year, the board chipped in for 12 $100 gas cards so Dayspring would have that for every month. So when you see that from the ultimate leadership, that speaks to the employees,” shares chief operating officer Jenny Budreau.

In 2012, the charity is the Agapé Therapeutic Riding Center in Cicero, which serves approximately 200 clients per week.

Offers Anne Wiseman, vice president of human resources: “Our employees really embrace it. We can make much more of an impact if we’re focused on one group a year. Also, we want our employees to embrace our charities of choice and things that we are doing as an organization because it builds camaraderie with employees – you have a common goal.”

FORUM and its employees also spring into action when needed. When the devastating tornados hit Southern Indiana in February, those working in the call center volunteered, on company time, to a local television outlet to man the phones for the station’s fundraiser.