Timpano Consulting: Research Points to Need for New Management Practices through 2020 and Beyond

Remote Work Arrangements Are Here to Stay:
Alignment of expectations and resources becomes more critical to sustain success

BROOKLYN, Wisc. and WATERFORD, Wisc., July 30, 2020 – Over 75 percent of employers believe they need to implement new management policies and practices to accommodate remote working as a standard future practice, and employees are interested in more flexible working arrangements going forward, according to a recent study conducted by Timpano Consulting and Blue Rock WI, management consulting firms specializing in workforce optimization.

The research effort involved surveys, interviews, discussions, and critical analysis about the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on employers and employees. Over 100 individuals spanning sectors, industries, sizes, and position types shared perspective; ninety percent of respondents were based in Wisconsin.

“Remote working is here to stay,” said Brett Remington, Blue Rock WI president. “Employers who figure out how to shift management practices to focus on outcomes rather than activities will be better positioned to raise productivity and secure profits.”

While 63 percent of employers anticipated a negative impact on their year-end organizational performance as a result of the pandemic, 77 percent of employers reported the performance of their workforce in remote work arrangements was about the same or better compared to the beginning of the year. Forty-three percent of employees working remotely were more satisfied with their job performance compared to the beginning of the year, and 32 percent felt about the same in terms of performance.

Ten percent of employees working from home during the pandemic preferred to return to their workplace as soon as possible, yet 80 percent of employees wanted to keep the practice as long as it makes sense for them and their work or until COVID 19 is no longer identified as a public health issue. Employees ranged in terms of how frequently they would choose to work remotely, with half preferring 5 days or more per week, and half preferring a hybrid arrangement of a few days per week or per month. All employee respondents who were working at home during the pandemic believed they could comfortably do so for at least a few months, with 77 percent indicating six months or more.

“Few organizations expect to return to business as usual from last year,” said Melanie Schmidt, Timpano Consulting president. “Employers must figure out how to best utilize their workforce to rebound and deliver value for customers – be that in person, remotely, or some sort of hybrid.”

Overall, employees are ready to adapt when given more flexibility, support to succeed, and clarity around expectations. Surveyed supervisors and managers welcome training and support to deliver on it.

The future has its challenges – but they can be addressed. Employers and employees shared concerns about the work-related challenges caused by internet connectivity (broadband access) and it being harder to communicate with coworkers. Yet, employers overestimated the challenges of distractions at home and underestimated employee anxiety about how they may be personally affected by the coronavirus.

Other Survey Findings:

• At the beginning of the year, only 30 percent of employers surveyed used remote working as routine practice, though 94 percent shifted to it during the pandemic. Looking ahead, about 10 percent intended to return fully to a ‘traditional’ workplace with 58 percent intending to deploy a hybrid model and 23 percent still unclear about how they would approach future work arrangements.
• Seventy-five percent of employees expressed confidence that they had the right resources to navigate through the crisis response, and 75 percent were confident in their leadership teams to make the right decisions through the crisis.
• Over half of employee respondents reported working more hours than before the pandemic; eight percent reported working fewer hours.
• Public sector employers expect remote work arrangements to be in the mix; most private sector employers intend to increase remote working while some functions return to the traditional setting; and, most nonprofit employers are likely to introduce more remote work opportunities.
• Across all sectors, employees want more outcomes-focused management and clearer expectations in terms of their accessibility and responsiveness. They also desire weekly communications from their leadership teams for how the organization is handling business complications due to the coronavirus.

The pandemic surfaced issues already existing within organizations. According to Schmidt and Remington, best-in-class organizations listen to their employees when formulating their strategies rather than instituting practices based solely upon others’ experiences, broad research reports, or management team assumptions. They observe that every organization’s workforce is comprised of different ideas about what will work best, and employers won’t be able to satisfy everyone so they must work toward solutions that deliver the greatest value to their mission and find ways to help employees navigate the changing times.

Interviews and discussions occurred in June; the survey of employers and employees was conducted for a week in mid-June.

A copy of the full report is available online at https://bit.ly/WorkforceStrategies_0720report.

Highlights from the report will be shared at a virtual public event on Thursday, August 6, 2020, at 1:30PM. The 45 minute presentation is free, with registration required via https://bit.ly/futureworkforce0806

Timpano Group includes a cross-sector strategy consulting firm that helps mission-driven organizations build capacity and achieve outcomes with processes that engage stakeholders to achieve sustainable transformation. More information can be found online at https://www.timpanogroup.com.

Blue Rock WI works with organizations interested in closing the gap between their performance and their potential. Services deliver enterprise-based performance improvement by simplifying the complex, focusing on achievement, and igniting passion for purpose across sectors. More information is available online at http://www.bluerockwi.com.

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For more information:
Melanie Schmidt, (608) 695-7320 or mschmidt@timpanogroup.com

UW–Madison, American Family Insurance: Seeding tech growth in Wisconsin’s fertile ground

Why would a global program for tech startups tackling risk decide to make Wisconsin its home? And how does a partnership with a Fortune 300 insurance company help support success for the startups?

When the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) – an innovative nonprofit that has created programs in support of early stage startups worldwide – decided to partner with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Madison-headquartered American Family Insurance for only its second U.S. location, it gave a nod to the ever-growing recognition that the region is fast becoming a hub for technology and innovation.

CDL is not alone in this belief. In December 2019, two national think-tanks, the Brookings Institute and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, released a report putting the Madison area at the top of the list of regions positioned to be the next national tech hub. This thinking reflects what many in the area already know: The education level, business climate, and rich environment for innovation and scientific discovery make the region fertile ground to seed the next wave of entrepreneurs and tech growth.

Founded at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, CDL’s objectives-based entrepreneurship program was built to include active involvement of university students and faculty. This will support a streamlined pathway for research and discoveries at UW–Madison to more quickly find its way into industry. In addition, students will have access to an exciting experiential learning lab geared towards educating digitally aware students who will quickly become the business leaders of tomorrow.

Not including Wisconsin, CDL currently has eight locations. They are in Canada, England, and France. The only other U.S. program is in Atlanta, Georgia, which is launching at the same time as Wisconsin.

Students will benefit

“Students from a variety of academic disciplines will benefit from the exchange of ideas and interactions with entrepreneurs and mentors, while generating startup ideas about how digital technologies can spur unrealized opportunities in risk management,” said Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business. “In the long run, this will be another way our public university helps to create jobs and grow the economy.”

Region poised for tech growth

CDL’s decision to place its ninth startup program in Wisconsin was inspired by the revelation that while early-stage venture capital was concentrated in California and a few other cities, scientific breakthroughs that seed companies have a much broader geographic distribution. Discoveries and innovations in Madison, Milwaukee, and even as far as Minneapolis, make our region ripe for accelerated growth and venture investment in tech.

Understanding that Madison is home to not just a top-ranked university but also a highly innovative national insurance company, American Family Insurance, made Wisconsin an ideal location to launch its newest stream, CDL Risk. The program will nurture high-tech entrepreneurs in the growing field of risk management. CDL Risk will leverage the expertise at  UW–Madison and American Family, focusing on emerging high-tech software technologies related to identifying, assessing, preventing, mitigating, and transferring risk. The program is slated to start in November and will be entirely virtual for the time being.

“The importance of supporting entrepreneurship in tech has never been greater,” says Tom Erickson, founding director of the UW–Madison School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. “The tech industry continues to drive economic growth around the globe, and we have an opportunity to put Wisconsin in the center of that.”

American Family partnership a win-win

As a founding partner of CDL Risk, American Family and its venture capital firm American Family Ventures is helping identify and select startups and will provide mentors and other resources during the nine-month program. This support is part of the company’s ongoing partnership with UW–Madison, which includes The American Family Insurance Data Science institute and endowed chair of the institute among other elements.

“Now, more than ever, we can see why entrepreneurship and advancements in data science and technology applied to risk management is critical to the insurance industry and society in general,” said Bill Westrate, American Family Insurance president. “Our involvement with these innovative startups in the very early stages will provide invaluable insights for us, and established resources to help them succeed.”

This partnership with American Family, access to focused mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs who have founded, led, and sold significant tech companies, and an emphasis on objective-setting to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources sets CDL Risk and CDL’s other programs apart from a typical startup accelerator.

With advances in data collection, analysis, and artificial intelligence, companies and individuals are better able to assess and respond to risk leading to new products, innovations, and cost savings. The ripple effect could lead to the development of many new companies and ventures focusing on anything from the use of satellites to detect wildfires, to new technology to identify potential damage to homes to improving traffic patterns to reduce accidents.

Furthers UW entrepreneurial innovation

“UW–Madison is a great choice for this project,” says Professor Joan Schmit, who holds the endowed American Family Insurance Distinguished Chair in Risk Management and Insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business. “To be able to support entrepreneurial innovation and economic growth in an area where we have a deep bench of expertise is a natural extension of our work.”

“CDL has developed a proven process for helping companies cut through distractions and focus on what’s most important, with a global network working toward our mission to accelerate the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind,” says Sonia Sennik, Executive Director of the Creative Destruction Lab. “We are thrilled to both welcome UW–Madison to the CDL family as our newest site, CDL-Wisconsin, and to announce the launch of CDL Risk in partnership with American Family Insurance.”

CDL Risk continues seeking startup candidates and businesses and individuals willing to serve as mentors. More is available at CDL Risk.

Applications for CDL Risk at CDL-Wisconsin are now open at creativedestructionlab.com/apply. Selected ventures will begin the nine-month CDL program in October 2020. To learn more about CDL Risk, please contact risk@creativedestructionlab.com.

Read answers to frequently-asked questions about CDL and the new partnership here.

ABOUT UW–MADISON

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public, land-grant institution that offers a complete spectrum of studies through 13 schools and colleges. With more than 43,000 students from every U.S. state and 121 countries, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of Wisconsin’s state university system. UW–Madison is a formidable research engine, ranking eighth among U.S. universities as measured by dollars spent on research. Faculty, staff, and students are motivated by a tradition known as the Wisconsin Idea that the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state and beyond. The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) offers the #1-ranked under graduate risk management and insurance program by U.S. News & World Report, and the Risk and Insurance department at the Wisconsin School of Business is recognized as a Global Center of Insurance Excellence by the International Insurance Society. The School of Computing, Data and Information Sciences (CDIS), housed within the UW–Madison College of Letters & Science, and home to top-ranked departments of Computer Sciences, Statistics, and the Information School, was founded in 2019 to serve the needs of our ever-changing society. CDIS departments have been the source of many successful tech companies in our region and nationally.

ABOUT AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE GROUP

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. The company inspires, protects and restores dreams through insurance products, exceptional service from agency owners and employees, community investment, and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. American Family acts on the belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 254 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite, and Main Street America. Across these companies the group has more than 13,500 employees nationwide.

ABOUT AMERICAN FAMILY VENTURES

American Family Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on insurance innovation. Founded in 2013 as the direct venture capital arm of American Family Insurance, AFV invests in early-stage startups that are redefining the future of the insurance industry. AFV aims to help create category-leading companies through minority equity positions, active partnership and collaboration, an extensive Insurtech network, and a comprehensive platform of value-add programs. For more information, visit amfamventures.com.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB (CDL)

CDL is a nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies. Its nine-month program allows founders to learn from experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their likelihood of success. Founded in 2012 by Professor Ajay Agrawal at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, the program has expanded to eight sites across four countries: Oxford (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford), Paris (HEC Paris), Atlanta (Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology), Vancouver (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia), Montreal (HEC Montréal), Calgary (Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary), and Halifax (Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University).

New coverage provisions for WPS Health Insurance and Arise Health Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli, Director of Communications
608-977-7343
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

New coverage provisions for WPS Health Insurance and Arise Health Plan

MADISON, Wis.—July 28, 2020—WPS Health Insurance and Arise Health Plan are adding new coverage provisions for customers in selected health plans, including some related to COVID-19.

“We realize that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges for health care consumers. The new coverage provisions we are announcing today are intended to provide some financial relief for our customers. We want to assist our customers in achieving good health outcomes by making it easier for them to receive the care they need,” says Jim Baird, Executive Vice President of WPS Health Insurance.

Here is a summary of the new coverage:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): Generic drugs used to treat depression are added to the $0 preventive drug list effective July 1, 2020.

• HIV PrEP: Specific HIV preventive drugs, such as Truvada, are added to the $0 preventive drug list effective July 1, 2020.

• Insulin $25 cap: Starting at your renewal date on or after Oct. 1, 2020, the maximum you will pay for insulin is $25. The insulin program is not part of the insurance policy and is offered at no additional charge. Enrollment in this program is subject to contract renewal.

• Telehealth related to COVID-19 testing: Services have 0% cost sharing through March 13, 2021.

• COVID-19 antibody testing: Physician-ordered in vitro diagnostic testing for COVID-19, including antibody testing, is now covered with 0% cost sharing through March 13, 2021.

• Coverage for furloughed employees: The work exception for group health plans is extended to Aug. 31, 2020.

• Prior authorization: Requirements are waived for COVID-19 laboratory tests and treatment through Dec. 31, 2020.

Note: Self-funded group health plans have the option to select these benefits except for HIV PrEP, which is a mandated benefit. Those enrolled under a self-funded employer plan should check with their group leader to see if these benefits are covered. Group leaders with questions may contact their WPS Health Insurance or Arise Health Plan account manager.

For more information about COVID-19, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit these pages for WPS Health Insurance and Arise Health Plan.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions) has been based in Madison, Wis., for more than 70 years. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

Eppstein Uhen Architects: Free Address as an Unexpected Workplace Strategy in a Post COVID-19 World

Change is the only constant, so prepare to be nimble

Sharing a work setting seems counter-intuitive when thinking about spreading germs, after all this “Safer at Home” period has increased our digital sharing but frowns on physical sharing. When we finally return to work, the workplace precautions around spreading germs will be a priority. This will focus on cleanliness and physical distancing (also staying home if you are sick). 

At the same time, with companies forced to have employees work from home for extended periods of time, employees naturally get better and more comfortable at working this way. This could fundamentally shift the percentage of time we spend in the office. The inherent positives of working from home (less germs, flexible hours, easy commute, better focus time (for some), pets, neighborhood walks and so on), will continue to be a draw to work from home more often. That may mean more empty desks at the office. And with many companies feeling financial strain due to the current economy or the need to increase social distancing for those who do come in, a free address model (in part or in full) could help reduce costs or at the very least, allow more space between seats. It can also setup an organization to react nimbly in an ever-changing world.

Based on designing numerous Free Address workplaces and having personally worked in one, the three most common reasons I see for Free Address are to: Reduce Real Estate Costs, Provide Work Setting Choice and Flexibility to Change Quickly. And now, changes to the workplace due to prevent the spread of disease could become another reason. Here is how it could work.

Cleanliness: How often do you clean your current assigned desk? My guess is that most of us can’t even remember. With all the stuff on your desk (computer, keyboard, mouse, headset/phone, papers, mugs, photos, documents, snacks, etc.) it’s hard to clean. One of the perks of a Free Address seat is the clean desk policy, a standard rule for any Free Address workplace. At the end of your use the desk needs to be clear. One advantage of a clear desk: it’s quick and easy to sanitize. Nightly cleaning crews that previously only vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms and emptied trash can expand their services to include disinfecting desks and chairs. That way every morning, desks and surrounding areas will be disinfected and ready to use for whomever comes into the office.

Some clean considerations for Free Address desk sharing:

• Avoid sharing keyboards, mice and headsets by providing each employee his/her own. At the end of each day these items go with the employee to their assigned storage locker, or in their bag to work from home.
• Provide cleaning wipes and sprays for employees to use in addition to the nightly cleaning. Allowing employees to clean the spaces and items they want will ease their stress while making the space even cleaner.
• If one person uses a desk for any portion of the day it should be considered unavailable until the next morning until sanitized overnight. A simple sticker or post-it can indicate which desk was sanitized and when.

Physical Distancing: Individual work setting sizes have been steadily decreasing, bringing teams closer together, to increase communication and save on real estate costs. Now the focus has shifted to distancing employees to stop the spread of germs. With free address seats, we can ensure work settings are correctly spaced out versus with traditional assigned seating where employees that come in on any given day may have assigned seats that are too close. At the same time there might be an empty row or zone somewhere else in the office that could have been used. With Free Address seating, employees can choose to sit at safe distances. If current desk locations are too dense, every other desk can be set as available. As we transition back to the office, some companies might choose to have rotating days when certain teams or departments are in the office (to reduce overall in-office staff per day); Free Address seating can easily accommodate those shifts, while allowing each group to be correctly spaced out.

Being Nimble: No one knows exactly what the post COVID-19 workplace will look like with shifting government/industry guidelines, employees’ varying levels of anxiety and unknown changes to the business environment. What organizations can do is ensure they are setup to be nimble. The common phrase ‘Change is the only constant’ is even more important with such an unknown future. A Free Address workplace is formatted for change. An employee in a Free Address workplace is familiar with working in different settings. If an office needs to expand, reduce, move, spread out, change department locations, temporarily move for construction, etc., a Free Address staff can easily flow with those disruptions. This allow organizations to quickly shift for the betterment of its employees and business. 

When considering a Free Address workplace, the emphasis should always be on “Free.” For many, the freedom to choose your work setting was already a perk even before this COVID-19 era, whether that was for focus, team or collaborative work. Top companies realized that trusting and empowering their employees on how and where they work increases engagement and empowers employees to do their best work. I believe that the freedom to choose to work from home in some capacity will continue after workplaces open again. While Free Address work settings might initially seem counter to the spread of viruses, with the right protocols its benefits for easy cleaning and physical distancing can help companies be nimble with a returning workforce in an ever-changing world. A Free Address workplace could be an unexpected strategy.

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Workplace strategies are unique to each business and office culture. There is no one-size-fits all solution. That is why EUA asks questions of our clients, studies their environment and aligns with a company’s vision and goals before we agree on a workplace solution. Free Address is not the right answer for every client. We can help craft a strategy that will help each client specifically.  

Per Mar Security Services Ranked #22 in SDM’s 2020 Top Systems Integrators Report

Contact:
Cassondra Billingsley, Per Mar Security Services, 563-549-6635

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2020

Per Mar Security Services Ranked #22 in SDM’s 2020 Top Systems Integrators Report

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Per Mar Security Services, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients based in Davenport, IA, is ranked 22nd in SDM’s 2020 Top Systems Integrators Report. The top 5 market segments contributing to Per Mar’s 2019 security system integration revenue were retail, industrial, health, corporate, and education.

Chris Edwards, President of Per Mar’s Electronic Security Division, said, “We are honored that Per Mar made this list again this year. On the heels of being ranked in the Top 20 for alarm system companies, the fact that we also made the integrator list shows the innovation and flexibility the team has created to further our support and service to our customers.”

The SDM Top Systems Integrators Report ranks 100 companies by their revenue in 2019 from their security system integration revenue. Integration includes solutions such as design, project management, product, installation, programming, start-up, training and time-and-materials-based service sold directly to an end-user customer or through a tier of contractors. This includes revenue related to security, such as: access control, ID/badging, video surveillance/analytics, intrusion alarms, perimeter security, electronic gate entry, intercom/communications, fire protection, IT/networks, etc. It does not include recurring monthly revenue (RMR), as that is counted towards ranking on the SDM 100 (www.SDMmag.com/SDM100Report).

About Per Mar Security Services

Established in 1953, Per Mar Security Services is the largest, family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest with more than 2,400 team members, operating in 23 branch locations. The company provides full-service security solutions for homes and businesses including security officer services, smart home automation, burglar and fire alarms, access control, security cameras, alarm monitoring, investigative services and background checks. For more information about Per Mar Security Services, please visit permarsecurity.com.