Paine PR Staffers at Irvine-based PainePR enjoy an atmosphere that cultivates creativity (From left) Ella F. Ella, Heather Wilkins, Ileana Prado, Matthew Everitt and Chester Ramos.
(Click Here)
LOVE WHERE YOU WORK? The people, the workspace, the benefits and the perks
are all keys to employee job satisfaction. How does your
company compare to these OC firms that do 9 to 5 right?
Do you love your job? If you are among the 45% of workers who claim to be satisfied with their jobs, then you know it’s about more than the task you perform each day or the role you play within the organization. The culture of the company is what keeps you from dusting off your resume and moving on. From the amount of responsibility you are handed, to the reward system for a job well done, real employee satisfaction is based on what occurs outside of your cubicle. It is the sum of the people, the environment and the way the company cares for its own.
With unemployment in Orange County running just 3.5% (the second-lowest in California - only Marin County is lower) and the high cost of housing driving young people out of OC, employers are working harder than ever to attract and retain workers.
In this, our 10th annual report on OC’s Best Companies to Work For, flexible scheduling, a casual work environment and, in some cases, just plain fun are the reasons these companies made our list.
BLITZ DISTRIBUTION
DAILY GRIND HEADQUARTERED: Huntington Beach
WEBSITE: blitzdistribution.com
CEO: Per Welinder
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Under 100
ANNUAL REVENUE: Privately held, under $50 million
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Manufactures skateboard products, videos, apparel & accessories
BEST BENEFIT: Onsite ramps, rails and skating obstacles
There are a lot of perks to Hairy Coveney’s job at Blitz Distribution – starting with the fact it makes him a “cool dad.”
At least that’s what classmates of his 5-year-old son say when they find out he works for Tony Hawk.
Blitz Distribution, founded by skateboard legends Hawk and Per Welinder, designs and distributes skateboard products, and its culture reflects the dynamic action sports industry.
Employees spend their breaks skating on the company’s ramp, rails and obstacles. They get invites to premieres and industry events like the X Games. Coveney gets a new T-shirt every month, and the holiday gifts are to die for – complete snowboarding gear packages, or duffle bags full of shoes, shirts and CDs.
Then, there are the “Fun Days.” A few times a year, management surprises employees with an all-expense paid day at a place like Magic Mountain, Etnies Skatepark, or the snowboarding slopes at Mountain High.
“The Fun Days started with my passion for roller coasters,” says Blitz’s CEO Welinder. “People can blow off some steam that way, and it seems to be appreciated.”
“They want to keep everyone happy, because it’s quite a stressful job,” says Coveney, who says he also appreciates Blitz’s commitment to promoting from within. Seven years ago, Coveney started as a packer and driver, and has worked up to production manager for Baker Skateboards.
“I know we get resumes all the time,” Coveney says. “But most of the people who work here pretty much stay here.”
—Kelly St. John
eEYE DIGITAL
JOB SECURITY HEADQUARTERED: Aliso Viejo
WEBSITE: eEye.com
CEO: Kamal Arafeh
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 75
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Security software.
BEST BENEFIT: Tuition reimbursement program
The highly skilled technical workforce of eEye, a leading security software company, commands a host of enviable benefits. And they go beyond pay rates above industry standards and solid medical benefits, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with match.
The company reimburses employees’ tuition, even for study outside the computer science field. It pays employees up to $3,000 if they refer a future employee, and allows its staff to work remotely with VPN technology. Its sales incentives for meeting quarterly goals are prizes such as all-expense paid trips to Vegas, free gas for a year or six months of house cleaning service.
Then, there’s the office. The company lounge has a pool table, dart board, a foosball table and arcade games. The building’s lobby has a beautiful koi pond, which employees overlook while they enjoy twice weekly free breakfasts. Staff can bring their dogs to work anytime.
As for the dress code? As research engineer Andre Protas, 24, notes, the rule is simple: “If you are dressed to order a burger at McDonald’s, you’re fine here.”
CEO Kamal Arafeh says the bottom line is that the better eEye does, the better off the employees.
“Winning is what keeps people happy,” Arafeh says. “Everything they deliver takes the company to the next level.”
—Kelly St. John
SILVERADO SENIOR LIVING
FAMILY FIRST Headquartered: San Juan Capistrano
website: silveradosenior.com
CEO: Loren Shook
Number of employees: 1,800
Annual revenue: $100 million
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Provides care for
individuals with memory impairment, through assisted living communities, home care and hospice.
BEST BENEFIT: Employees are encouraged to bring their children to work.
Some might think a long-term care facility could be a depressing place to work. But Silverado Senior Living is different.
The company actively encourages employees at its centers, which serve patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions, to bring their children and pets to work.
Children are welcome to explore the communities, befriend residents, play with the animals that live there, or just do their homework. Youngsters eat meals and snacks for free – and parents who take advantage of this built-in childcare can save hundreds of dollars each month.
Pets get exercise and attention. The arrangement also helps residents: Research shows time with animals has a positive impact on people with memory disorders. Starting next month, Silverado will even add pet insurance to its employee benefits.
Carole Shaw, administrator of Silverado’s center in San Juan Capistrano, says it is nice to see the playground in the courtyard get so much use. The American Psychological Association agrees, recognizing the company as a “Psychologically Healthy Workplace” for its policies.
“It can really be a place of joy. Animals and children make that happen,” Shaw says. “They know how to play and enjoy life.”
—Kelly St. John
GRANT THORNTON
FEMALE FRIENDLY HEADQUARTERED: Irvine (home office: Chicago)
WEBSITE: grantthornton.com
CEO: Ed Nusbaum
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 140 in OC
ANNUAL REVENUE: $940 million
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Provides accounting, consulting and business advisory services.
BEST BENEFIT: Flexible schedules
Grant Thornton LLP, the fastest-growing accounting firm in the country, has pioneered innovative workplace policies, particularly pertaining to women.
Work-life integration, part- and flex-time, compressed workweeks and skills enhancement has yielded an increase of women partners by 38% in the past year.
“Women are extremely important in the workplace, both current and long-term,” says Scott Farber, partner in charge for Irvine. “Fifty percent of accounting grads are women.”
“Baby Boomers are nearing retirement age and there is no one to replace them; the workforce is facing an overwhelming deficit over the next several years,” says Farber. “We had to think strategically to maintain the consistent, communicative relationships that best serve our clients.”
Non-traditional solutions proved the best option. It’s an evolutionary process; the needs of each client and employee are unique, but the results have been encouraging.
“I started working full time in three days when my son was 2 and I was pregnant with my daughter,” says Marisol Casey, a seven-year Grant Thornton employee.
“Most of the time it works great, but busy times can get hectic. That’s when communication with senior managers is key.” She maintains her schedule now so she can volunteer at her kids’ school, etc. “It’s not just women; we have single fathers using these options too,” says Casey. “It fosters loyalty and seems to be working really well with our company.”
—Susan Belknapp PAINE PR
BALANCING ACT HEADQUARTERED: Irvine
WEBSITE: painepr.com
CEO: Daryl McCullough
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 61
ANNUAL REVENUE: $15 million annual billings
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Provides public relations services
BEST BENEFIT: Reduced workweek
PainePR is committed to helping employees balance their work and home lives with benefits from flexible schedules to the option to work from home once a week.
The firm offers a reduced workweek, popular among its working mothers. Because employees are sometimes needed on their day off, the company does not reduce pay proportionately with the schedule. That means if an employee works a four-day week, her pay is only reduced by 10%, not 20%.
After three years, PainePR employees are eligible for paid sabbaticals of six to 12 weeks. And all employees can take two paid days off per year to volunteer for charity. That comes on top of generous personal and vacation time, including six personal days and 10-20 vacation days, depending on tenure.
Founder David Paine says that since the company’s start in 1986, it has tried to distinguish itself by respecting its employees. “We truly try to practice what we preach,” Paine says.
Heather Wilkins, a client service representative, says she likes that she can leave at 5 p.m. – without getting dirty looks – if she needs to get home. Likewise, her colleague knows he doesn’t have to miss his child’s baseball game on a given day if he starts work early.
“I like that my personal time is respected,” says Wilkins. “People appreciate that you have a life outside from work.”
—Kelly St. John
8E6 TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATE CASUAL HEADQUARTERED: Orange
WEBSITES: 8e6.com
CEO: George Shih
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 125
ANNUAL REVENUE: $20 million
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Provides web filtering and reporting products.
BEST BENEFIT: Bonuses for all employees
You’ll enjoy working at 8e6 Technologies. And that’s an order.
“Money isn’t the only thing. Work needs to be fun,” says Eric Lundbohm, vice president of the Orange-based company.
Fun runs a wide gamut at the business that creates web filtering and reporting products.
Lundbohm considers the everyday casual dress code for all employees one of the top perks. “I wear jeans about four times a week,” he says. “We’ll give our staff a heads up if a particular day warrants a less-casual dress code, but flip-flops and shorts are the norm in August and on hot days.”
And just because workers are, well, working, that doesn’t mean they have to miss the big game. A 50-inch plasma TV was on all day for a couple of weeks during the popular NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.
If getting out more often is to an employee’s liking, 8e6 offers discount passes to movie theaters and theme parks in Southern California.
“Everybody is approachable, from the CEO on down,” says Jane DeFrank, the office manager who joined the company five years ago. “”I really like the camaraderie.”
Keeping fit can be easy, thanks to an on-site gym. Child care issues? No problem. Flexible hours are a way of life at this business.
And on the financial side, each employee can earn a year-end bonus of up to $1,000 if four quarterly goals are met. If goals are met by a particular date, employees can take off the final week of the year.
—Paul Napolitano
WELLS FARGO TEAM WORK HEADQUARTERED: Irvine
WEBSITE: wellsfargo.com
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, REGIONAL PRESIDENT FOR OC: Kim Young
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: More than 2,900
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Financial services
BEST BENEFIT: Career advancement opportunities
Wells Fargo is opening seven more offices in Orange County this year, making it the second largest financial services company in the county with almost 3,000 employees. Wells Fargo focuses not just on their clients but on the hard workers behind their success.
The company’s vision statement says it’s “where teamwork is valued and rewarded.” This is evident in Wells Fargo’s strength in team member education, career goals and vast opportunities for advancement. Development programs are offered to give employees a chance at reaching higher goals to increase their earning potential.
A long list of benefits makes Wells Fargo a wonderland of smiles. Paid time off, a matched 401(k) plan, discounts on the company’s financial products and services, health care, tuition reimbursement, adoption reimbursement and scholarships for children of employees are the advantages of being a team member. Community involvement, event sponsorships and volunteering opportunities build bridges with other companies and organizations, and within the company’s family of workers.
The OC region is headed by Executive Vice President and Regional President Kim Young of Huntington Beach who has been with the company for 30 years and emphasizes the importance of including team members and clients in Wells Fargo’s vision.
The company’s Vision & Values statement underlines that “our team members are our most important constituency because they’re the single most important influence on our
customers.”
—Ashley Eliot
SMARTLABS
STRAIGHT TALK Headquartered: Irvine
website: Smartlabsinc.com
CEO: Joe Dada
Number of employees: 100
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Designs, manufactures and markets home automation and control products and technologies used for electronic home improvement.
Best Benefit: “No email Fridays”
Walk around SmartLabs, Inc. on a Friday and you’ll witness a majority of employees engaged in one-on-one meetings. Not the usual backs turned toward office doors and eyes glaring at monitors – all of which are healthy consequences of “No email Fridays.”
As face-to-face communication becomes a corporate America relic, this home automation products manufacturer believes one-on-one meetings are effective in breaking down hierarchical barriers.
Online Marketing Specialist Jessica Hasenplaugh enjoys the morale boost that comes from a “No email Friday” visit by the VP of marketing. “It makes me feel important,” she says. “The direct communication in general makes me feel more at ease with my co-workers, especially those with whom I don’t work as closely.”
Aside from its manager-sprinkled “fun committee,” which enables employees to bond over bowling, miniature golf, picnics and monthly barbecues, SmartLabs regards its workers as internal customers and is strongly committed to helping them advance in their careers.
Hasenplaugh, 30, has been with the company for nine months and was promoted after six months of working as an assistant. She now writes search engine ads and loves the challenge.
“Through training and mentoring, our company supports employees as they grow in any direction they’re willing to take,” says Chief Information Officer Mike Nunes – a 12-year employee who’s risen from head of technical support to operations manager to VP of software development and now CIO.
“We really focus on developing people and recognize our company is only as strong as the people who work here,” Nunes says.
—Judy Asman
BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT
THE NEXT LEVEL HEADQUARTERED: Irvine
WEBSITE: blizzard.com
CEO: Mike Morhaime
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Over 1,000 in Irvine (1,000 in Europe and Asia)
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Developer and producer of entertainment software games, including subscription-based "World of Warcraft.”
BEST BENEFIT: Employees can play games before they're released to the public.
As you sign the confidentiality notice at Blizzard Entertainment, you can feel the Orcs watching you closely. Orcs are a non-human race in “World of Warcraft,” Blizzard’s enormously successful multiplayer online role-playing game. With over 8.5 million subscription-based users of Warcraft alone, its every move is highly anticipated by races around the globe. The Orcs do allow human employees at Blizzard to play games before they’re released.
Blizzard’s 1,000 staffers in Irvine and another 1,000 in Europe and Asia all share a passion for gaming. Ben Brode, associate producer on the creative development team (which makes action figures and other game offshoots), says that he didn’t fully connect with others in past jobs. “Here you can be passionate about anything, even if it’s weirder than most people would think.”
How weird? Team One, a top-secret team, celebrates Cinco de Mayo with cheeseburgers. Other humans play paintball and battle each other in Warcraft tournaments. Blizzard’s service awards are from the medieval Warcraft theme, including a sword after five years and a shield after 10.
Employees often conquer from within – many of the shield holders advanced from testing games to being senior game developers. Shane Dabiri started in technical support and after 13 years is now the lead producer for “World of Warcraft.” What keeps Dabiri and others at Blizzard for so long? “We were gamers before we were game developers, so it’s not only our career, it’s our hobby too,” he says.
—Michael Reicher
ROGER’S GARDENS
COLORFUL CAREER Headquartered: Corona del Mar
website: rogersgardens.com
CEO: Gavin Herbert
Number of employees: 140
PRODUCT/SERVICE: Retail nursery center and a complete landscape company
Best benefit: The people. Employees are passionate about their jobs.
Working at Roger’s Gardens has intrinsic benefits, in addition to getting paid to spend time at a beautiful home and garden center.
Employees enjoy perks still rare in the nursery industry. That includes 401(k) retirement plans with a company match, and health insurance, with 100% of the premiums paid, for employees who work at least 32 hours a week.
The family-run company has earned the loyalty of workers who stick around for years, even decades. And the company returns that loyalty. Production manager Toni Parsons, who is retiring this month after 34 years, just returned from an all-expense paid week in Maui, a gift from the company.
“You have to empower (your employees), allow them to do their job in their own way, and give them the resources necessary to accomplish their goals,” says Gavin Herbert Jr., president and CEO of Roger’s Gardens. “When they come up with great new ideas, you make sure it really happens.”
Creative director Eric Cortina – who started as a production assistant 21 years ago – credits the company for giving him the freedom to grow into his current job, and to launch his own line of glass-blown Christmas ornaments. And yes, he adds, the job’s other benefits don’t hurt.
“Just to walk through the garden to get to the office is worth it,” says Cortina. “It’s calming to work surrounded by beautiful things and beautiful plants.” OCM
