Volume 31 • Issue 11 • November 2006
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Great companies offer more than just a paycheck
Employees rate positive work environment,
potential for advancement high on list of priorities
by Mark Vinson
Great people make great companies. That was the overwhelming response to a recent survey of area employees by Northwest Business Monthly.
Respondents rated working atmosphere, respect from supervisors, flexible scheduling and professional training ahead of pay and benefits as the most important qualities a company can offer its employees.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you make if you’re miserable where you work,” said Karissa Francis, an office manager who came to Birch Equipment from another local company earlier this year. Francis made the move partly because she and her husband were planning to start a family and the company offers a four-day workweek.
“They’re super family-friendly,” she said. “The flexibility is important. They don’t make you feel terrible if you have to take time off.”
Flexible scheduling, an investment in professional training and supervisors who listen to employee concerns were all among the most frequently-cited items that make a company employee-friendly.
“Most people working now have families,” said Andrea Ruback, an accounts manager at Birch. “All of us are trying to do that balancing act between work life and family life.”
Such was the case for Katie James, a working mother who moved to Bellingham from California five years ago in order to raise her children in a smaller community. James went to work for 3D Corporation, starting in the shipping department after a one-day tryout, and has risen through the ranks to become the marketing and client services coordinator.
“We are all like a big family here,” she said. “I have never worked for a company that gave as much personal support like the people at 3D do.”
It was the team environment that most impressed Claire Rubenis, an Australian who recently came to Skagit County and joined Valley Freightliner in Mount Vernon less than a year ago. Rubenis works as VFI’s front-desk coordinator.
“It’s a pleasant place,” she said. “Everyone works as a team; we didn’t have any personality clashes. You can approach management at any time.”
The company, owned by Larry and Virginia Gordon, offers three shifts and plans a monthly employee barbecue at its Mount Vernon location.
“If you’re directly involved with your employees, you get the results you’re after,” said Jonathan Callis, service manager at VFI.
Callis has had several raises in his three-plus years at VFI and isn’t worried about job security.
“It’s never an issue of ‘Will I have a job tomorrow?’ “ he said.
Invest in employee training
Another important quality often cited is a company’s commitment to employee training. Both Birch and VFI regularly send employees to training programs at company expense to ensure their people are up to date on the latest technology needed to repair sophisticated machinery.
“A big portion of our success is linked to the amount of money we invest in training,” said Callis, who supervises 30 employees in the service department. The company services truck engines from a variety of manufacturers and often sends technicians to multiple schools to keep knowledgeable on each type of engine. “We may have to send them to half a dozen different schools.”
Gay Palmer joined VFI after 15 years as a truck driver and a stint in the grocery business. Seven years later, she’s the company’s accounts and warranty manager.
“The company taught me how to use a computer,” she said. “The company has done everything in its power to help us succeed.”
Birch human resource administrator Peri Shepard said her company offers weekly training classes where employees are paid to learn more about the equipment they sell and lease.
“Training is critical in our line of business,” Shepard said.
“You can teach the equipment. You can’t teach the work ethic,” Ruback added.
Moving up, not out
In larger companies, employees often look for opportunities for advancement within the company. James started in shipping at 3D Corporation; Shepard began as an admininstrative assistant at Birch and spent five years managing the Bellingham store before moving into her current role this summer.
“It’s the variety to go in some different directions and still be in the same company,” said Lisa Guthrie of Homestead Northwest. “This company is so diverse.” Guthrie started at Homestead seven years ago as an administrative assistant, later became construction administrator and was recently promoted to Director of Resort Development.
Open door, listening ear
Management’s willingness to listen to its employees’ concerns can make or break a company.
“Your ideas are listened to here,” Guthrie said. “It’s a lot of fun to come to work every day.”
VFI, Birch and others have also adopted open-door policies.
“Whoever wants to have a voice, has a voice,” said Birch owner and president Sarah Rothenbuhler.
Tokens of appreciation
Small tokens of appreciation, such as company barbecues, office parties or sending an employee a greeting card, aren’t lost on employees, either.
“They take the time to send you a birthday card on your birthday,” VFI’s Palmer said.
Employees at Homestead went even further. When a colleague developed cancer and was eventually forced to retire, Homestead employees took up a contribution and paid for new siding for the man’s home.
“What’s nice about Homestead is you know that everyone enjoys their job,” said sales specialist Erin Workentin, who joined the company two years ago.
While respondents stressed intangible factors, such a pleasant working environment and flexible scheduling as the most important criteria, the pay and benefits were also rated as average or above average. Homestead Northwest, for example, offers fully-paid medical/dental/vision insurance and a 401(k) plan.
“The employee benefits are great, the flexibility in the hours and knowing that the company has your back,” Workentin said.
Birch offers its 75 employees a package that includes standard medical/dental/vision coverage paid at 75 percent, 401(k), profit sharing plan, tickets to Seattle Seahawks and Mariners and Vancouver Canucks games and a number of incentive bonuses for meeting safety and sales goals or recruiting new employees. Despite all that, the company is growing so fast it can’t fill all of its openings.
“We cannot pull good, solid people in fast enough,” Rothenbuhler said.
It costs Birch approximately $250,000 per year to implement its four-day, 10-hour per day workweek, which Rothenbuhler started several years ago.
“It costs a little more, but it’s an expense we gladly bear,” Ruback said.
Reaping the rewards
Not only do satisfied employees tend to stay with a company longer, they can also serve as a business’ best recruiting tool. “I had one friend who moved here from Seattle that is our marketing director,” Homestead’s Workentin said. Workentin said she also consulted friends and acquaintances before accepting a position at Homestead.
So, while bringing home a paycheck may still be the primary motivation for finding and keeping a job, more and more business owners are understanding it takes more to attract and keep the best people and make their company a great company to work for.
“The tangible things are nice, but no amount of money is going to make up for a bad work environment,” Ruback said.
Editor’s note: There are many great companies to work for in the Northwest. On the following pages are three examples of companies who have earned their employees’ endorsement.
Great Companies to Work For
Northwest Business Monthly asked readers to nominate companies that were exceptionally employee-friendly. To be considered, the company had to have at least 25 employees and have at least one branch located in Whatcom, Skagit, Island or San Juan County. The following companies were nominated:
3D Corporation
Boatyard at Colony Wharf
Birch Equipment
Dri Eaz
Haggen
Hampton Inn & Suites
Homestead Northwest
First Horizon Loans
Janicki Industries
Management Services NW
Pacific Woodtech
Pro CNC, Inc.
Pioneer Ford
Ryzex
Snelson
Sound Cedar
St. Joseph’s Hospital
T-Mobile
Valley Freightliner
Western Washington Univ.
Whispering Winds
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