Camaraderie seems to grow as team members take greater ownership over the success of the team.  “That’s not my job”, “I’m too busy”, “It won’t work”, or “I can’t believe THEY are planning to do this” are statements that isolate team members and kill productivity.  We want to know that everyone has an equal stake in the outcome.  Or said another way, “I want to know that you care as much as I care.”

Invested In The Team

Jen Dobel is invested into the mission, values and strategies of Clickstop.  She responsibly completes tasks on time, and sees what needs to be done, taking ownership to make it happen.  While at home, on Christmas break, and with a sick child, Jen D. was pulling together the necessary information to make sure that payroll went through without any interruptions.  This level of responsibility, met with consistency, is an example of autonomy.

Additionally, Jen knows how her decisions create a ripple effect on profitability.  As a member of our ESOP committee, she is regularly encouraging team members to think like owners while setting an example to follow.  Recently, she led a positive change to a new partner for retirement administration.  Each employee owner has been personally benefited through an improved customer experience, and decreased cost to the organization.

Jen, thank-you for your commitment to Clickstop’s mission, values and strategies, and for pursuing new ideas while effectively communicating their significance.  We are pleased to recognize you as our Q4 2018 Core Value Winner for Promote A Winning Team Spirit.

The Interview

What is your role at Clickstop?

HR Manager

How long have you worked at Clickstop?

Hired 9/11/2017, so 1.5 years

How did you feel upon being recognized for this award?

It is a huge honor.  We have such amazing people that work at Clickstop.  However, it’s also a bit strange.  It’s not like I set out to win an award.  I just do what I need to do to keep things moving forward and take care of our employees.

What do you believe has led up to this recognition?

When I joined Clickstop, it wasn’t just a job to me.  We spend a lot of time at work and our coworkers become your 2^nd family.  Clickstop is more flexible than anywhere I’ve worked before.  I’ve been able to be where I’ve needed to be when I’ve needed to be there.  I’ve also had amazing support from my coworkers on a personal level as my best friend recently lost her battle with cancer.  I want to do my part to help us all be successful.  I’ve been actively involved on the ESOP Communications Committee, present new benefits options for consideration and was a driver of our recent change to a new partner for retirement administration because I believe it is best for our employees and the company.  I worked countless hours on the recent Manufacturing project and got to know employees I normally don’t have a chance to work with.  I know not everyone appreciated my “whoo!” every time the belt moved, but I wanted to keep things fun and upbeat on some of those long days.

Have you had struggles within this Core Value?  If so, what have they been and how did you overcome them?

In the beginning of my career at Clickstop, I sometimes struggled with being aware of which department owned various things and seeing how my role fit with that, but this is the core value that comes the easiest for me.  I’ve worked at places where there was a “that’s not my job” mentality, but after being part of an ESOP company for 7 years prior to joining Clickstop, it just comes naturally to do my part to find out whose job it is and keep things moving forward in a positive direction instead of brushing my hands of things.

Why is this Core Value important to the success of Clickstop?

If we aren’t each doing our part to work together and move in the same direction, we will not be successful.  Take the Manufacturing project for example, if those who normally work in manufacturing would have just left the rest of us to figure it out on our own, we probably wouldn’t have hit our deadline.  Instead, they did their part to help us – from tricks to keep the machines running smoothly to teaching how to thread the machine to troubleshooting when things broke down to sharing tips for efficiency, etc.  It really took the whole company for that project to be successful.

What can we find you doing when you’re not at work?

Kickboxing at Farrell’s or running on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail when I’m not trying to steal cuddles from my 6-year-old.

What brought you to Clickstop?

When my son’s idea of fun on a Saturday was a “picnic” at mommy’s office, I knew it was time to make a change.  I worked with a former Clickstopper several years ago and she reached out when Clickstop was learning more about ESOP companies.  Then, she reached out when the HR position was open and I took a leap and applied.  I’d always been curious about Clickstop because I live in Urbana.  The energy when you walk in the door here is so different than most companies and I knew I wanted to be a part of this.

What keeps you at Clickstop?

First and foremost, the people.  Our work family becomes our 2^nd family.  When my best friend was battling cancer, people here were so supportive.  They followed her journey even though they’d never met her.  They wore purple on Thursdays because they knew that’s how we showed her how strong her army was (which helped me see how strong my army is).  They supported me when she passed away.  My coworkers care about me as a person.

While the people are important, you have to feel supported on other fronts as well or it’s not worth staying.  Another big thing for me is flexibility.  I am a single mom and things don’t always fit between 8-5.  Clickstop provides flexibility not just in hours, but also in the ability to work remotely if needed.  We also offer volunteer PTO so I can help at my son’s school with things like the Valentine’s Day party or spend time with my Little through Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Our benefits program is also great (and I’m not just saying that because I work in HR).  😊

I feel like there is a give and take here at Clickstop.  The more I feel taken care of at Clickstop, the more I am willing to give.  I want our team to be successful.  I want to help grow our ESOP.  I want to take care of our employees.  I want to be part of the reason Clickstop is such an amazing place to work.

Tell me 10 things I’d see when I walk in your door?

Pictures of my family, toys, blankets, clean laundry that needs to be folded, Iowa State décor, plants, my workout bag, my spoon collection, my son’s library books and shoes.

What TV / Netflix Show currently has your attention?

The 1 show I try to keep up with regularly is The Young & The Restless.  I do enjoy Teen Mom on a regular basis (guilty pleasure) and the only show I’ve ever watched on Netflix is Making a Murder (still need to finish season 2).

What book do you most remember from your childhood?

Not a particular book, but a series – The Berenstain Bears.  We owned a ton of those books and I’m reliving them now as my son recently discovered the series at the library.  It’s so much fun seeing him enjoy books that I loved as a kid.