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One of the most unusual personal benefits found in corporate America, concierge services allow hospital workers to handle the work-life balance by enabling them to complete the items on their personal to-do lists in less time.

When John Dixon, MSN, RN, works long hours at Baylor Health Care System of Dallas, he does not want to spend his off-hours and weekends doing endless chores like finding a roofer for his house.

So, Dixon turns to the "Baylor Butler," an online concierge service provided by his employer. The benefit allows Dixon and other hospital workers to handle the work-life balance by enabling them to complete the items on their personal to-do lists in less time.

"At work, we value each moment, because we want to maximize our productivity," Dixon said. "If your personal matters are taken care of, it frees up your workday."

Baylor Health Care System initiated the concierge system in December. Serving as a recruitment perk, the Baylor Butler has two functions: "Our dual focus is to hire nurses and to retain them," said Fiona Macleod Butts, director of employment for Baylor. "We want to offer a lifestyle program that shows we care for our employees.

"The Baylor Butler provides something that touches the nurses every day."

Butts can attest to this. In October, when her parents were visiting from Scotland, she logged on for recommendations on a top-notch vacation place on the edge of the Grand Canyon, which they were planning to visit. "We wanted to be as close as possible to the spectacular view," she said.

Within 48 hours, through the Baylor Butler, Butts made reservations at a lodge just a few steps from the Grand Canyon. Also, the service provided a map and travel guide, a list of nearby gas and ranger stations, local stores and even weather information with suggestions on appropriate clothing to wear on chilly nights.

Work perk

Concierge services are among the most unusual personal benefits found in corporate America, according to a 2002 benefits survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. Only 4 percent of all companies offered concierge services to employees, just ahead of the 3 percent of businesses that offer workers pet insurance.

No surveyed health care companies offered concierge services in 2002, according to the Washington, D.C.-based human resource group.

The Baylor Butler concierge service is offered on a contract basis, through a 6-year-old Boston-based company called Circles Company Associates Inc.

Baylor Health Care employees, including 5,000 nurses and 3,300 doctors, can access Circles via an intranet link or by logging on to its Web site. Users can either complete online request forms or call a toll-free number. Once the request is received, Circles assigns a personal assistant to the task, who, if needed, will call the employee to obtain more information or insight on specific needs, such as choosing a gift.

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