Do Not Run

Office and call center-bound workers at Middlebury, CT-based ArchivesOne are propelled out of their seats and onto the highway during the record management company's annual Road Day. The program allows these employees to experience life on the road with one of the company's field service reps. In existence for more than five years, the program also tries to give participants a view of a different ArchivesOne region, or market, than they usually work in, says Vice President of Team Development Pam Malec. "It's a great way to see what the drivers have to go through every day, and a great way to meet key customers," she says. It provides a stimulating change of scenery, Malec points out, in addition to giving its office and call center-based staff a chance to "see the day-to-day side of the business, and where we make our revenue."

To ensure that workers fully reflect on their Road Day experience, they are provided with questionnaires to answer after each customer visit, says Scott Halstead, training and development specialist, ArchivesOne. Employees are asked to consider how well customers received them, and their impression of them. They also are asked to look for business prospects, or companies they think ArchivesOne ought to send a sales rep to—learning what it's like in their co-workers' road warrior shoes, and driving revenue, too.