Employee Benefits at the "Old" Kodak Park
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: November 14, 2012
By all accounts, George Eastman was a good businessman who believed in people.
He once said, "A good reputation is measured by how much you can improve the lives of others - customers, employees, community."
"Mr. Eastman knew how important it was to keep his employees happy. If they were not happy, and they were disgruntled, anything could go wrong," said Kathy Connor, Eastman Legacy Collection Curator.
To prevent anything from going wrong, Mr. Eastman gave his employees unbelievable benefits.
"His employees could actually get mortgages so they could buy a home close to where they worked," said Connor.
"He was giving them a bonus, a chunk of money, each year at a certain time that Mr. Eastman's hope was that everyone would invest so when they retired and left the company they would have a nest egg of sorts to be able to depend on for their pension," said Connor.
That wage dividend plan didn't work out as Mr. Eastman had hoped, but that didn't stop him from ending the program. Instead, he added to it.
"Most people got the chunk of money and bought a car, went out and bought new appliances, put a down payment on a home so it wasn't working the way he thought so eventually he continued that but he started a pension plan as well for the company," said Connor.
It wasn't just about keeping Kodak employees happy, Mr. Eastman also wanted them to be healthy.
"Eastman had eye glass care, dental care, and you also had doctors right at your work site that could help you out, so you didn't have to leave work to go to a doctor and then maybe not come back. You could actually get medicine or a prescription right there on Kodak Park and have all those services provided for you," said Connor.
Being healthy meant staying active without even having to leave Kodak Park. Activities were provided so employees could socialize and keep fit around the clock.
"The company ran 24 hours a day so there was always people on different shifts and that is why having bowling leagues might have been at eight in the morning. It was important because if you finished your job at seven, you would have time to get to the bowling league and play with your team who were probably people with a similar schedule to you," said Connor.
When it came to eating, Mr. Eastman had a plan for that too. Employees and their families could come to Kodak Park and have full course dinners for just a few bucks.
"You could get home cooked meals everyday. Different things everyday and they of course were always nutritious and well-balanced because he wanted to keep his employees healthy," said Connor.
Mr. Eastman created stability for Kodak families. The men and women of Kodak developed a long lasting relationship with a company they worked and played for.
"They were willing to stay there and be loyal because the company took care of them and the Rochester community," said Connor.
He once said, "A good reputation is measured by how much you can improve the lives of others - customers, employees, community."
"Mr. Eastman knew how important it was to keep his employees happy. If they were not happy, and they were disgruntled, anything could go wrong," said Kathy Connor, Eastman Legacy Collection Curator.
To prevent anything from going wrong, Mr. Eastman gave his employees unbelievable benefits.
"His employees could actually get mortgages so they could buy a home close to where they worked," said Connor.
"He was giving them a bonus, a chunk of money, each year at a certain time that Mr. Eastman's hope was that everyone would invest so when they retired and left the company they would have a nest egg of sorts to be able to depend on for their pension," said Connor.
That wage dividend plan didn't work out as Mr. Eastman had hoped, but that didn't stop him from ending the program. Instead, he added to it.
"Most people got the chunk of money and bought a car, went out and bought new appliances, put a down payment on a home so it wasn't working the way he thought so eventually he continued that but he started a pension plan as well for the company," said Connor.
It wasn't just about keeping Kodak employees happy, Mr. Eastman also wanted them to be healthy.
"Eastman had eye glass care, dental care, and you also had doctors right at your work site that could help you out, so you didn't have to leave work to go to a doctor and then maybe not come back. You could actually get medicine or a prescription right there on Kodak Park and have all those services provided for you," said Connor.
Being healthy meant staying active without even having to leave Kodak Park. Activities were provided so employees could socialize and keep fit around the clock.
"The company ran 24 hours a day so there was always people on different shifts and that is why having bowling leagues might have been at eight in the morning. It was important because if you finished your job at seven, you would have time to get to the bowling league and play with your team who were probably people with a similar schedule to you," said Connor.
When it came to eating, Mr. Eastman had a plan for that too. Employees and their families could come to Kodak Park and have full course dinners for just a few bucks.
"You could get home cooked meals everyday. Different things everyday and they of course were always nutritious and well-balanced because he wanted to keep his employees healthy," said Connor.
Mr. Eastman created stability for Kodak families. The men and women of Kodak developed a long lasting relationship with a company they worked and played for.
"They were willing to stay there and be loyal because the company took care of them and the Rochester community," said Connor.
