Archive for category: Crew benefits
Fast forward to March 16, 2020, when a stay at home order was put into effect for Pennsylvania. Overnight, everyday became ‘bring your kids to work’ day. Spoiler alert: it was not as glamourous as my pre-kid self envisioned. It was downright hard. Reflecting on the past year with my husband, who has also been working from home full-time during this period, I recall good times, bad times and hilarious times. Vanguard has been there for us every step of the way and I couldn’t be more grateful to work for a company that has proven time and again how much they value their employees.
For some perspective, I have three children: an eight-year-old, a four-year-old and a one-year-old. I have had at least one child home each day during work hours for over a year (379 days to be exact as my daughter started back at school full time on Monday, April 5). Here are some highlights that we’ve shared together:
The Good Times
The Bad Times
The Hilarious Times
I can’t think of anyone who would say this past year has been easy. Employers have had a real opportunity to step up for their employees, and Vanguard has done so in a big way. It is OK if my kids pop on video calls to say hi. It’s OK if I need to reserve my lunch hour to make sure my kids are fed. It’s OK if I must step away from a meeting to help my child. Vanguard has welcomed my children into the mix with open arms, and I have never had to make excuses for having a life outside of work.
-Schuyler T.
“Every crew member is in a different place when it comes to their needs, wants, and thoughts on how their employer should support them from a benefits perspective. To navigate these differences, we think through our crew members’ own journeys on an individual level to truly understand how they experience our benefits program, which helps us identify where we might – or might not – be meeting their needs today.” -Amy W., Benefits Manager
Benefits and Well-Being
Healthcare
Financial
Wellbeing/Lifestyle
Lastly, COVID-19 presented a unique opportunity for us to enable our strategy and develop new programs to support crew needs in this unprecedented time:
“Helping our diverse crew members thrive means that our benefits strategy needs to be an evolution to meet changing needs and preferences. The program is built on a strong foundation of core benefits like health care, time off and retirement, but also includes many other value-based benefits like education assistance, enhanced mental health support, and solutions to aid caregivers. Our intention is to ensure each program aligns to one of our guiding principles – whether it’s offering a specific digital tool to improve user experience, or simply because it’s the right thing to do for our crew. Crew feedback is an important part of this process as it helps us shape our benefits program, now and into the future.” -Amy W., Benefits Manager
EXOS Senior Program Manager Andrew B. touches on Vanguard’s virtual wellness offer
At EXOS, our goal is to upgrade lives through our four pillars of performance: mindset, nutrition, movement and recovery. Now more than ever, our ShipShape members and the crew at Vanguard need a sense of normalcy to get through this unprecedented time. When ShipShape centers closed in mid-March, our team quickly responded to pull together the following fitness service offering that has been made available to all crew:
Vanguard crew open up about their fitness regimens
Working out is a part of my daily routine, so I’m pretty set here at home in the way of space and equipment. But having access to the home workouts has really helped to add variety and motivation. It’s a great way to take that necessary break, and the coaches do an excellent job.
—Kim U.
Staying active was a major concern for me when I realized we’d be working remotely for an extended time. I take advantage of our ShipShape fitness center as much as I can, but now I’m on my own! What I’ve been trying to do is exercise before I open up my laptop in the morning, and then again in late afternoon after closing up shop. It’s a great way to clear my head and refocus. Usually I walk around the neighborhood, or if I’m lucky, I can play basketball with my teenage sons or get a family backyard volleyball game going. I’ve also been working with a ShipShape specialist who customized a workout plan that I can do without a ton of equipment. Her input has been fabulous! Now, if I can just stay away from the fridge . . .
—Jeff B.
Because our family is usually on the go, we have really had to make sure we are squeezing in daily workouts during this long work/school from home period. I have been taking advantage of our awesome virtual Ship Shape classes, online yoga sessions through my local studio, and completing my daughter’s assigned soccer workouts with her. I also try to take a quick walk during the day to get fresh air and, if I am lucky, I can slip outside to shoot a quick round of HORSE with the whole family. While we all want to stay physically fit during this time, the one thing we quickly realized is the importance of maintaining this physical activity as a way to maintain good mental health, too—both are so important!
—Kym G.
ShipShape’s EXOS trainers share tips that can help you cope
Mindset
Stay Active. It’s a slow process, but quitting will not speed it up. Dedicate this time to reach the goals that you’ve set for yourself. Drink lots of water, make healthy choices and exercise!
—Gianna T., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape PA
Spend 10 minutes each day doing something you enjoy: reading, journaling, listening to music, or going for a walk.
—Jess H., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape PA
Nutrition
Portion out snacks for the day for yourself and your family to control over-snacking. Designate a bowl or basket for each family member’s snacks. When planning out snacks, think about including all the colors of the rainbow like green apples, yellow peppers, red tomatoes and more!
—Becky M., Program Manager, ShipShape NC
Movement
Set a timer every 20-30 minutes throughout your work day to get up and either stretch or walk around the house for 2-3 minutes at a time. This way, you can come back fresh and more focused for your work day.
—Shannon O., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape AZ
Set a reoccurring alarm on your phone 3-5 times/day and label it as 10-20 repetitions of a specific movement i.e. squats, pushups, plank hold, lunges, etc. Movement is medicine!
—Brandon K., Program Manager, ShipShape PA
Recovery
Sleep is essential to having a healthy immune system. Dropping the thermostat between 65 and 72 degrees can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, allowing your body to naturally recover.
—Melissa K., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape PA
Group exercize
Regardless of your situation, you can set up a great workout space wherever you are! Whether it’s your bedroom or your backyard, make sure your area is clear of obstacles and distractions. Gather any equipment you need, grab water, and turn on some music to set your space and your intentions for your workout!
—Noah G., Program Manager, ShipShape PA
Vanguard has an inspiring mission to help investors of all types, and I’ve been happy to be a part of it for more than ten years. I have also found Vanguard to be a place that values employees with families of all types. I experienced this during the adoption of two of my children. Adopting a child can be a challenging and very expensive process —agency fees, social worker costs, legal and government requirements, and many other things add up. We benefited greatly from Vanguard’s Adoption Assistance Program, which reimbursed a significant part of these costs. Additionally, the Parental Leave benefit provides six weeks of paid leave for all parents, including adoptive parents, which was incredibly helpful to not only finalize the adoption, but also for us to be able to spend time together at home as a new family. Me and my new daughter
I have used Vanguard’s Adoption Assistance Program twice. My wife and I had adopted our oldest daughter as a baby when I first joined Vanguard, and we also had a biological son, but felt we had room in our family for one more.
We knew there were some children who were older or had special needs and were still waiting to have a family of their own. Last year, we adopted our seven-year-old daughter from China.
She didn’t speak English at the time of her adoption, but the orphanage caretakers told us through translators how happy she was to hear the news: “…she looks so excited, she keeps saying, I have a mom and dad!” Can you imagine being seven, without a mom and dad, then finding out you do have a family, and they are coming to take you home?
We spent two weeks in China and took our older two children, then 10 and 11, along with us to meet our daughter and bring her home. Our new “mèimei” (younger sister) was shy at first, but quickly showed that she had a size 10 personality in a size 7 body. I can still picture her marching through the busy city of Guangzhou cheerily calling out to hotel staff, “Nǐhǎo!” (hello) with her family struggling to keep up with her. Spotting a moth on a window, she shouts to her new family, “Jiě
jie! Guò lái! Nǐ kàn!” (Sister, come here, look!)
The process was challenging, requiring a lot of trust and faith from her, us, and others, that somehow it will all work out right. In many ways, we pursue things in life that are difficult, and they often end up being worth the effort more than anything else. This is one of them.
First meeting her
During my leave and return, I also experienced an incredible demonstration of support from my work colleagues and management team who were happy along with me and had so many words of encouragement and ensured a supportive and flexible environment as I took time away to go bring our daughter home.
I appreciate that Vanguard values employees holistically and recognizes families can be formed in various ways, not only in traditional ones. By supporting adoptive parents through the Adoption Assistance Program and Parental Leave Policy, Vanguard makes it possible for more people to choose adoption. For the crew members who have room in their hearts and homes to be a family to a child who needs one, I hope they will use Vanguard’s benefits and any other resources to adopt.
-Perry B.
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
I’d been working at Vanguard for about eight years when my mother, and best friend was diagnosed with Stage 3 Urothelial Cell Carcinoma. As you can imagine, this turned my family’s world upside down as my mom is the heart & soul of my family unit. My mom, who had cared for me, my brother and my dad, all (or most of) our lives was now the one who needed care. This was a role no one in my family, except my mom, had really ever done. I knew I would play a key part in my mother’s appointments as my family wasn’t sure what questions to ask or notes to take. Needless to say, having served in auditor-type roles most of my Vanguard career, I was well prepared for the challenge. During the first quarter of 2017, while my personal life was turned on its head, a new leader was assigned to my team. I was experiencing changes both at Vanguard and in my personal life. My first one-on-one was conducted through video conference from my parent’s house. It was during that conversation I finally said the words out loud…my mom had cancer. Not knowing how my new leader would respond, I waited. He took a moment and said, “Family comes first,” a concept I heard Vanguard was known for but never experienced firsthand. To my relief, my manager and I worked out a flexible schedule so I could attend all of my mom’s chemotherapy treatments. My mom’s 68th birthday in our matching red panda onesies
My first leave occurred in July 2017, for mom’s surgery to remove the cancer cells. Knowing I could assist in her care, this was my first experience with Vanguard’s Family and Medical Leave Program (FMLA). I took the steps necessary to ensure that everything would go smoothly, and it did.
I was nursing my mom back to health, with my dad and brother and other extended family by my side. Every morning, I went straight into mom’s bed where we spent hours talking, laughing and praying. During that leave, I wore many hats, some included: Doctor, nurse, caretaker, therapist, chef, butler, and chauffeur. Before I knew it, the two months had passed & I was back to work.
When I returned from leave, I was notified that my team was undergoing changes. I had a new team and leader. Like the leader before, she was caring and understanding. She went out of her way to help support me, and therefore, my family.
Having been home for the holidays, I asked mom if she needed me to stay. She was hesitant; worried that her diagnosis that was now Stage 4 was affecting my work. Always a mother. But she did ask me to stay. I went back through the seamless FMLA process and was back at home, supporting my family by the first week of 2018.
The first day of that leave we found out that the cancer metastasized in mom’s liver. She was given six months to live… A time frame no spouse, son, daughter, mother, sibling, or friend is ready to hear or accept. However, a few weeks after that appointment, mom was on an upswing responding positively to her new treatment. My mom, our family, was going to win this fight.
Mom graduating from chemo for the first time on my Vanguard work anniversary
I returned to work in early February of 2018 in hopes of making a career move. I wanted to challenge myself now more than ever considering the flexibility Vanguard had given me. Then, my perfect job appeared. I was hesitant to apply, worried that a new department and leader wouldn’t be willing to work with me through this trying time. With that in mind, I went for it and luckily I did, because I began an exciting new journey at Vanguard.
Having the same insecurities I’ve had before, I explained my home situation. My new leader exceeded my expectations even more so since I had only just gotten the job. She didn’t know me, but she didn’t need to. She knew what I needed.
Shortly after starting my new job in June 2018, my mom stopped responding to treatment and my family was overwhelmed. I needed to be home as taking care of mom had become a full time job that did not include sleep. For a third time, I submitted for FMLA. Another straightforward and successful process.
I was on leave from the end of July 2018 until Labor Day. I did my best to remain optimistic. Mom surpassed the six month expectation her doctor gave her in January. Every moment with her beyond six months was a blessing but I wasn’t naive; things looked bleak.
We had mom’s palliative care appointment the Friday I returned to work. The night I arrived home, I knew things were bad. During that appointment, mom was admitted to inpatient hospice care though she had been using their home services for months. I was told she may not make it the 15 minute ambulance ride. My world was falling apart.
My brother, mom & I visiting the casino with dad
Saturday morning, September 8, at 12:08 AM EST, after a year and a half of fighting, my mom passed away, unable to beat the courageous battle all cancer survivors and victims have to go through. More than anything, I wish this blog was ending differently, not only for you, but for me…for my family.
From that experience, here’s what I can tell you: If I wasn’t working at Vanguard, I don’t know how different this story would have been. I don’t know if I would have been at every chemotherapy appointment. I don’t know if I would have been at every doctor’s appointment. I don’t know if I would have been as available to my family. I don’t know if I would have been able to be home.
However, I was working at Vanguard. I was able to be there when my family needed me the most. I was able to go to every doctor’s appointment. I was able to be available for my family. I was able to be home. I was able to take multiple leaves of absence through FMLA. I was able to use personal leave to handle my mother’s affairs. I was able, and that – that is a blessing.
Hospice of the Sacred Heart Memorial walk
Vanguard’s annual celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), held on May 16, placed a spotlight on the role of assistive technology in helping people with disabilities achieve more independent and productive lives. Assistive technology takes many forms: adapted vehicles, hearing aids, safety devices, scooters and wheelchairs, in addition to computers, iPads, tablet software, and hardware.
Our 2019 GAAD celebration featured a guest presentation from Susan Tachau of the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), a statewide, non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians acquire assistive technology devices and services. The presentation provided information about the organization, how it helps people with disabilities find funding and access to assistive technology tools; and on raising awareness of financial education and literacy.
Before and after the event, our crew had opportunities to learn more about assistive technology tools and gained insights into how we can all advocate for accessibility at work and in our communities.
Meet Deji A. He is a Financial Advisor Manager who shares how he found the right fit in Vanguard. Deji’s strong client focus and passion for developing his crew have remained a priority throughout his career. Watch his full story below:
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In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re featuring a series of blogs dedicated to working mothers and their experience at Vanguard. In this blog, Schuyler T. discusses working at Vanguard and what happened when her baby came earlier than expected. I started at Vanguard as a Client Relationship Specialist answering phone calls from our clients. To be honest, I took the job because my Dad informed me that if I wanted to remain living under his roof I would have to get a job. Considering I wasn’t entirely sure if he was kidding or not, I accepted the job and started a few weeks after graduating from Bucknell University. In my mind, I thought this job would satisfy my Dad’s request and allow me the time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life… Finding the flexibility I needed Thirteen years later, I am still with Vanguard and have had an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Today, I am a Manager who sits on the Talent Acquisition Leadership team, but more importantly, I am the mom to two great kids and the wife to an amazing husband who is also a crew member. I love my job and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, in fact, I would go as far to say I love being a working mom. There is no secret formula to create a balance or even a magic number of how much time should be spent at home vs. work. Instead, it is all about flexibility. Vanguard has offered me the flexibility that I need to be the best mom to my kids and succeed in my career. Flexibility comes in many shapes and sizes – some weeks I may put more time in at work to finish a project. Other weeks I may need to put in more time at home to be there for my family. Either way, I have never felt that I had to choose between work and family. Coming back to work As a new mom to two, I had 4 months of paid time to spend with my newborn son and help my daughter adjust to being a big sister. This time was invaluable to me and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was able to enjoy my leave and bond with my family. And guess what? Work didn’t stop, and I didn’t get any emails or phone calls. The only communication I had with my team was me sharing pictures of my adorable (I may be biased) kiddos. After my 4 months of leave, I was ready to come back to work. I knew my kids were in great hands with our childcare provider as their days were filled with learning, socialization, art, and songs. Much more exciting than a day spent with mom. In fact, for a few years every time I shared with my daughter that tomorrow was Saturday, she would sigh and respond with “that’s nice, but I can’t wait for Monday”. Comments like these validate that, just like me, my kids have their own lives too. They have friends and activities at school that they get excited about, just like I have projects and initiatives that I am excited about at Vanguard. Working full time and being a full time mom is not easy, and it’s definitely not glamourous (so what if my house isn’t perfectly tidy, my garden needs weeding, or we sometimes have pizza for dinner) but I wouldn’t change it for the world. In my opinion, I get the best of both worlds and they complement each other quite nicely. Every day I have the opportunity to challenge myself at work, which keeps me driven and energized, and there are still so many things that I aim to do with my career. I know Vanguard and my family will support me every step of the way. -Schuyler T.
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.