Award-winning CHRO Elizabeth Famiglietti shares her wellness approach at PAN Communications

Elizabeth Famiglietti likes to get her arms around a project and connect on a personal level with colleagues, so leaving big business for a smaller organization suited her.

When she arrived at PAN Communications 10 years ago, the fast-paced marketing and PR organization was demographically young and aiming to grow organically and through acquisitions. But employees had little work/life balance.

With more than 20 years of HR experience, Famiglietti knew the work pace wasn’t sustainable. She set out to bring wellness culture to PAN with the full support of its CEO Phil Nardone.

Nardone’s decision to focus on a “happy employees make happy clients” philosophy allows Famiglietti to expand and shift wellness efforts to suit employees’ needs.

“Wellness, when I first started putting programs together for employees, was the more traditional kind of programs you would see where you’re partnering with whomever your health care provider is, but now it’s such a more holistic approach,” says Famiglietti.

Famiglietti pushed the work/life balance message, showing it’s OK to have boundaries. While still holding steadfast to business goals, employees were encouraged to work to live, not live to work, says Famiglietti.