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A turn toward consulting In 1940 Ted Hewitt and Charles L. Kluss intended to open an insurance brokerage in Lake Forest, Illinois. After working with their first client, Parker Pen, they realized what Parker Pen really needed was a well-designed benefits package for employees. Soon after, Hewitt Associates began to shift its focus from insurance to benefits consulting, which is now the firm's leading area of expertise. Currently, the firm boasts a client roster including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 500 and one-third of the Global 500. Its 11,000 associates reside in 79 offices in 37 countries. A leader that continues to grow The largest employee benefits consulting firm in the U.S. and the largest independent 401(k) record keeper, Hewitt is growing rapidly. In 1999, the firm posted revenues of nearly $1.1 billion - a 25 percent increase over the previous year. Hewitt ranks as one of the world's 200 largest private companies. The firm has also become one of the largest providers of benefit outsourcing services. In fact, more than half of Hewitt's revenue comes from benefits outsourcing. Client companies wishing to concentrate on "core competencies" contract with Hewitt to run their employee benefit plans. Hey, wait a minute, we are one of the top places to work In 2000, Hewitt Associates opted out of the running for Fortune magazine's coveted top 100 employers list for the second time. Having made the list every year since the inaugural list in 1984, the firm has partnered with the magazine for the past two years in creating a human resources questionnaire. The authors of the article used Hewitt's People Practices Inventory (which includes categories like development and learning and work/life programs) to help choose and rank the 100 top employers. New directions, same philosophy Adhering to Tom Hewitt's original organizational philosophy, Hewitt Associates continues to be a leading human resources consultancy. This involved people working together with shared goals, work standards, and rewards. In March 2000 Hewitt brought its expertise to the Whittman-Hart, Inc. and USWeb/CKS merger. Future plans include raising earnings in Asia by securing four big projects.
Hewitt's web site, located at www.hewitt.com, offers extensive information on employment opportunities. The firm divides its North American jobs into the following categories: Administrative/Support Opportunities, Entry-Level Opportunities/Campus Recruiting, Customer Service Opportunities, Experienced Opportunities, and Technology Opportunities. The firm also offers outsourcing jobs to qualified applicants. To apply, use the firm's online resume submission system. At the beginning of the hiring process, Hewitt usually meets with candidates on campus, over the phone, or on-site for a half-hour, first round interview. Promising candidates are then invited to a Hewitt office, where they have two to three interviews with associates and learn more about the firm's various departments. Once part of the Hewitt team, most employees out of undergrad join the Total Benefits Administration (TBA) division. Hewitt hires a variety of majors, but often gives preference to those in computer science, MIS, accounting, economics, and math. Most new hires are placed in the firm's Lincolnshire headquarters, while a few are sent to other offices. Entry-level compensation ranges, but the baseline is generally considered competitive with industry standards. College students who have completed their junior years and hold GPAs above 3.0 are encouraged to apply for internships - which may lead to permanent employment.
The personal touch For a large firm, Hewitt has a surprising number of employees who wouldn't dream of being at a smaller, and presumably more intimate, workplace. Applauds one insider: "Hewitt's culture is open and honest." Says another consultant: "Hewitt prides itself in being an open environment. Basically, teamwork is the key to our business." Part of this environment means taking junior employees seriously. Reports one insider: "Employees are important and are listened to." Another announces, "any associate, using good judgment, can do just about whatever they want or need to do to meet business needs. The firm really trusts its associates." As an example of the team-oriented atmosphere, one consultant in the firm's headquarters points out that "there are few offices in our buildings, which means even the management sits in an open area." And it's not as if Hewitt employees are forced into teamwork, either. Says one contact: "The people at Hewitt are genuinely nice." Niche prestige Insiders also consider their company to be very prestigious (albeit in a specialty area). One insider gushes, "We are the premier firm in our business. Enough said!" An inspired, colleague states, "I think it means something to work at Hewitt Associates. We are the premier company in our industry and have been admired for years as one of the best companies in the United States." There is such a thing as a free lunch...and a free breakfast Insiders unabashedly laud the company's many perks and incentives. How many? How about "discounts on new cars, cell phones, movie tickets, theater performances, and daycare, on-site dry cleaning, and an ATM machine?" Other perks include "free breakfast, lunch, and re-heated dinners - if you work late hours." Hewitt headquarters also houses a credit union and "coffee stations fully stocked with soda, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea." Says one associate about the perks at Hewitt: "Sometimes it's the little things that count. I remember each associate receiving a box of candies shaped in the form of a $100 bill on income tax day. And then there was multi-colored popcorn on "all associate's day." Insiders also report disounts on amusement park tickets and "ice cream in the afternoon." But it's not just quirky perks like discounts on computers and cell phones that Hewitt insiders count among their benefits. The firm offers profit-sharing bonuses and pays almost 100 percent of its employees' health insurance plans, insiders report. Says one insider: "There are so many benefits that we have a database setup solely for this, called Associate Benefits." Great for women and minorities Hewitt is known as an excellent employer for minorities and women, and our contacts confirm the truth of this reputation. "Diversity is a very important part of the firm. There are many associate networks for people to become involved in," reports one insider, citing company organizations for working parents, gays and lesbians, and various ethnic minorities. Says one openly gay employee: "I can tell you the firm offers domestic partner benefits and sponsors the Chicago AIDS Walk every year. I've always felt that Hewitt has supported me with open arms." Says another insider: "As a woman, I have not experienced any kind of discrimination, and find the organization very supportive of coworkers with families in terms of work flexibility." Another employee believes "there might be more females than males at Hewitt." Hewitt associates are also encouraged "to work on a volunteer basis at an organization of their choice two days a year." Not quite paradise, but about as close as it gets Is there any dark side to this lovefest? There are occasional long workweeks at Hewitt. While most contacts report working between 40 to 50 hours a week, one reports that for some positions, Hewitt associates work "a minimum of 60 hours a week." Another says: "For me, the worst thing about working here is that it's not a 9 to 5 job. Depending on what type of position you're hired into, most business analysts and business systems analysts work upwards of 50 hours a week." Growing pains a small price to pay Hewitt is also experiencing some growing pains. "Lack of communication between upper management and associates and lack of information sharing is a problem," discloses an insider. "And training capacity has not grown with the company. There is not enough space for all the people who want - and need - to attend classes." Says another: "Growing at such a fast rate places a training burden on experienced associates. It's often difficult for recruiting to keep pace with needs." Overall pleasure But overall, Hewitt associates are about as satisfied as one could expect. "I'm very satisfied with my job," reveals one Hewitt-happy individual. "Every day is different here and the environment's always great." Says another: "I'm extremely satisfied with Hewitt Associates. The benefits are great and the people are even better." Says another fan: "I would recommend this company to anyone."
David Wille Human Resources
PricewaterhouseCoopers ;Towers Perrin;Watson Wyatt;Andersen Consulting More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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