At the Polo Club of Boca Raton, the way employees are treated is not a side program or a branding line. It is the job. Leadership has built a workplace where people feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow. That shows up in the benefits they offer, the way they recognize effort, and how they step in when someone on the team needs help.
General Manager Liliana Hang and Assistant General Manager Lorant Botha understand this on a personal level. They started in entry-level roles, both as H2B visa holders working in food and beverage. They’ve carried trays, washed dishes, and stayed late to reset a room. That experience is not a distant memory. It is the foundation of how they lead.
“Knowing that our executives began as servers and server assistants gives great relief and understanding to the teams they now lead,” says Gabriela Muriel, Director of People and Culture. “They understand the stress. They know what it feels like to be overlooked or overworked. That builds a level of trust and empathy that can’t be faked. It also gives great pride to the organization that the big bosses have lived the journey many of our team members are still on.”
Well-being is built into how the club operates. Employees have access to standard benefits like health, dental, short-term, and life insurance, but they also have a full slate of wellness programs that go further. There are on-site yoga and Zumba classes, summer sports lessons, and Lunch and Learns on practical topics like mental health and financial planning. The club also hosts an annual Wellness Fair where employees connect with vendors for screenings, resources, and real support. These aren’t surface-level perks. They’re part of how the club takes care of its people.
Recognition is just as thoughtful. Alongside referral, performance, and holiday bonuses, employees receive birthday gift cards and personalized “You Rock” recognition cards. Muriel delivers these by hand. The message is clear. Appreciation isn’t reserved for the annual review. It’s consistent and visible.
“These tangible rewards reinforce our appreciation and inspire continued excellence,” shares Muriel, who personally distributes them to the club’s 500+ employees.
The club’s approach to culture is grounded in connection. Employees are invited to participate in events throughout the year that offer space to relax and connect with each other. These moments reinforce the sense of belonging that leadership works hard to create.
“At Polo, we know that a strong sense of belonging builds a stronger workplace,” says Botha. “We are family—we spend more time with each other than at home sometimes.”
That sense of family becomes even more important when someone is facing a personal crisis. Through the club’s Employee Hardship Fund, employees have received help with everything from hospital bills to home renovations to life-saving medical treatments.
“When our directors hear about something going on in an employee’s life, the Polo family steps in to help—no one should feel alone during a difficult time,” says Muriel.
Muriel shares how the fund has helped make real, meaningful change. It has been used to renovate bathrooms to be wheelchair accessible when an employee’s family member needed accommodation. The club has covered hospital expenses and helped with life-saving treatments during times of crisis.
“This isn’t just a policy, it’s part of who we are,” says Muriel. “We want our employees to know that when life takes an unexpected turn, they have a family behind them ready to lift them up.”
Recognition at Polo is also about honoring tenure. High-performing team members are spotlighted as Employee of the Month or Manager of the Quarter. At the 2024 Service Awards, more than 10 employees were recognized for 30 or more years of service.
“That doesn’t happen nowadays,” says Hang. “People stay here because our bond is stronger than money—it comes down to a sense of care, trust, and devotion.”
Professional growth is treated with the same level of care. The club recently partnered with Engaged Leadership to provide the entire management team with continued leadership education. These sessions help managers strengthen their communication, build better teams, and take more ownership of their roles.
The STEP scholarship fund expands opportunity even further. Created to support the educational goals of employees and their families, it has helped recipients pursue degrees in law enforcement, medicine, and other career paths. Since the program began, more than 95 scholarships have been awarded. In 2025 alone, Polo members raised more than $150,000 to fund the initiative.
“There is no better perk than giving someone the opportunity to better themselves, and to watch each generation build a better life for the next,” shares Botha. “In 2026, we will do even better.”
Polo’s parental leave policy is another standout. While Florida’s short-term disability and FMLA provide limited coverage and protection, Polo offers all new parents three months of fully paid leave.
“I’ve witnessed the tremendous impact our parental leave policy has made,” says Muriel. “It removes the financial burden during childbirth, allowing families to focus on what truly matters: recovery and bonding during those precious early months. I’ve had mothers call me in tears of relief, knowing they can take the time they need without financial worry, and fathers benefit equally, giving them the opportunity to be fully present. This policy has supported our people during life’s most significant moments while strengthening our culture of care.”
“It allowed me and my husband to focus on our daughter without the constant worry about managing day-to-day expenses,” shares an employee of the policy. “It truly lightened the load for our family.”
The club is continuing to build on that momentum. Earlier this year, it introduced holiday coverage for employees’ children, offering on-site activities like arts and crafts, tennis, and golf lessons. A subsidized summer camp is in the works to provide even more support.
“We know that when school is out, especially during holidays and breaks, it is often when the club is at its busiest, and our employees are needed most,” says Muriel. “So, we asked ourselves: why not step up for our working parents when it matters most? This program is another way we’re helping our team find balance between work and family—because at Polo, showing up for each other is what we do.”
At The Polo Club of Boca Raton, employee engagement is not jargon. It is a framework built from the inside out. The club has found ways to invest in its people that are both practical and deeply personal. From leadership development and wellness programming to emergency support and education, the goal remains steady: to create a workplace that stands apart.
“We do everything we can to keep our members within the gates, so why wouldn’t we do the same for our staff?” says Botha. “We don’t see our employees as just resources; we see them as valued team members who are the driving force behind everything we do.”
“When employees feel valued, supported, and engaged, they don’t just work—they thrive,” says Hang. “And when they thrive, so does our entire community.”
A key part of that continued growth is investing in top-tier talent to lead the charge. Since joining the team as Director of People and Culture in 2024, Muriel has hit the ground running, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and a deep commitment to making The Polo Club the employer of choice in the industry.
“The vision is clear,” she says. “We will keep finding bold, meaningful ways to stand out and support our team like never before. Exciting things are ahead—and this is just the beginning.”
The Goal: Create a workplace where employees feel genuinely valued and supported, and foster a culture rooted in care, trust, and belonging.
The Plan: Invest in wellness, recognition, and professional growth programs while offering meaningful benefits like full parental leave, tuition scholarships, and an Employee Hardship Fund.
The Payoff: Employees stay, grow, and thrive—many for decades. When team morale is high, service excellence follows, and the culture is magnetic.
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