The Best Places to Work in Direct Selling contest was designed by Direct Selling News with several goals in mind:
- To spotlight the channel as a positive job-creating engine.
- To recognize and honor companies that have created positive work environments and become employers of choice.
- To identify and share best practices with the wider direct selling community.
- To provide valuable feedback and data to participating companies that will assist them in measuring levels of employee satisfaction and engagement.
We all know that direct selling is a people business.
Measuring field engagement is critical to any company’s success, and consistently delivering on that is a hallmark of the channel. But the field is only part of the people equation. Best Places to Work in Direct Selling celebrates the important role companies play as employers in the marketplace and highlights those companies that are setting the bar for establishing and nurturing work experiences and environments that bring out the very best in people.
Congratulations to 5 Time Winner Plexus Worldwide!!
HEADQUARTERS | Scottsdale, Arizona
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES | 325
YEAR FOUNDED | 2008
What sets your company apart as one of the Best Places to Work in Direct Selling?
The entire Plexus team shares a common vision of hope, health and happiness, and we are 100 percent committed to the field’s success. Our Founders exemplify humility and believe in an open-door policy where all input is welcome.
How does your company bring the same red-carpet treatment to your employees that you give to your distributors?
From monthly product stipends and lots of fun swag to employee recognition and team events, the company has prioritized creating a rewarding work environment that celebrates people and their success. Employees are also invited to attend and participate in many field events, and we provide team members with special access to keynote speakers and other influencers.
What’s the “definitive elevator pitch” that you would offer to a prospective employee about why they would want to work for your company? Can you describe your culture in just a few sentences?
Plexus is a place where respect and kindness are the norm and where people genuinely care about helping our Brand Ambassadors find success in their businesses. The phrase “One Plexus” was conceived as a convention theme but was soon embraced so fully by all members of the Plexus community that it came to be the definition of our culture: Belief in our shared values, partnerships across the company, a commitment to action and for making a difference in our communities.
What is your top priority when it comes to maintaining a great work environment? How had that changed as people balance working in the office and working from home? what does that look like for your company?
Maintaining our great culture is a priority for the company, and we do that by taking the time to recognize, reward and celebrate our teams. We are also focused on ensuring people have access to information they need to do their jobs successfully in this hybrid work environment. This requires a multichannel approach to disseminating information and connecting with teams both in person and virtually.
How does your company support team members in their personal and professional development?
Plexus provides leadership training, personal development courses and many other opportunities for self-development. Leadership training in areas such as communication, team building and new software skills is regularly offered. Plexus also presents personal enhancement courses on fitness, health and financial planning. Tuition reimbursement is another great benefit for employees looking to pursue formal education outside of the workplace.
The only thing constant in 2021 was change. How have you managed the constant pivots required during the pandemic? How are you maintaining and building a sense of community?
We implemented a formal telecommuting policy, adapting to the needs and new demands that our team members faced during challenging times. We also redesigned our Learning & Development programs to support virtual learning. An unintended (and positive) consequence of this was to our international team members who could now participate in training with their peers at headquarters in ways they hadn’t done so before. Additionally, we pivoted to virtual volunteering which meant that we could continue to support our community partners at a time when many companies and individuals weren’t focused on volunteering. Now that we have returned to the office three days a week, our focus is on engagement and culture. Friday has been designated as our culture day, so everyone is asked to be in the office. On these days, we host team gatherings, spirit days and lunches. We are also preparing to host our 5th Annual Community Walk to benefit three local children’s charities. In addition to walking for a great cause, our staff, sponsors and community can enjoy food trucks, fun games and special guest appearances from local team mascots!
Our 2022 contest was open to direct selling companies with at least 40 fulltime employees based in North America. Any employer or employee could have nominated their company during the open period last fall, which ended on October 25, 2021. Each nomination included a contact person who received all of the communications from Quantum. After the nomination period ended, Quantum sent out an official invitation to each company to begin the survey process. Employees were invited to complete an anonymous and confidential survey. A certain percentage of employees at each company, based on size, had to complete the survey in order for the company to reach the threshold to be included. After the survey period was over, the team at Quantum calculated the responses to determine overall scoring and ranking. Only companies who met the threshold determined by Quantum as the baseline for a Best Places to Work environment were announced as Honorees for 2022.
Read full feature article on Best Places to Work in Direct Selling 2022. From the April 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.
