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MSNBC Highlights AIS Media Inc. on the Topic of Playing Fair with Single Employees August 8, 2007 MSNBC featured Entrepreneur’s article that highlighted AIS Media Inc. CEO, Thomas Harpointner, for his views on how to tailor employee benefits to target a variety of employees. Excerpts from the article included: Entrepreneurs in many other fields are likely to find themselves with similarly single work forces, according to a 2006 U.S. Census Bureau report showing that, after a decades-long tilt away from marriage, the number of Americans who are over age 18 and single reached 41 percent. Forces driving the transition include delayed marriage and increased frequency of cohabitation among unmarried couples. Whatever the cause, this group of nearly 90 million poses some challenges for entrepreneurs used to managing married workers. Harpointner, for instance, began offering company-sponsored health insurance to domestic partners of AIS employees. But equalizing benefits isn't necessarily enough, according to Civian. Job meaning is often stronger for single employees than for married ones, so singles often want to learn new skills, she says. Entrepreneurs should talk to singles to find out what they desire, and then figure out a way to provide it. Harpointner pays tuition for job-related classes and gives time off for employees to go to school, and he meets with each one quarterly to delve into what they would like to get out of their work. You can do a lot to overcome the retention issue by asking singles the right questions during the hiring process, Harpointner adds. "There are other indicators, primarily how long they were in their previous position, but also whether they are just out of college and whether they've decided on a career path or they're just looking," he says. To read the full story visit: Equal Matchup About AIS Media © 2007 AIS Media, Inc.
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