With 27 full-time employees, The Whitlock Co. offers a benefits package that includes 100 percent company-paid health insurance and tuition reimbursement for work-related continuing education. The company also invests in several hours a year for formal training for employees. Employees receive regular formal feedback on their performance, and they also have the opportunity to provide feedback to firm leaders. The majority of employees in managerial roles were promoted from within the firm. Among other benefits, the company recognizes employee birthdays and pays half of fitness membership dues for employees. The Whitlock Co. conducts in-house fundraisers for nonprofits, makes regular donations to community groups and allows employees to volunteer during work hours. The Whitlock Co. also recognizes key employee events and accomplishments.
How does your company foster employee loyalty? “By investing in our employees. This includes more than 50 hours of training each year.
“We feel this equips our employees to do their jobs well and feel confident in the work they do.”
Tell us about your firm’s team-building activities or events. “Each month we recognize birthdays and years of service anniversaries. We have an annual chili cook-off and costume contest at Halloween. Duringtax season, we stock the office kitchen with healthy food and bring in massage therapists. We also have separate management and staff retreats each year, as well as periodic after-hours social events.”
How does your business support work-life balance for employees? “We encourage … use of paid time off and attending family events.”
Has the economy made it difficult to award raises? How are employee efforts rewarded?“No. The partners of the Whitlock Co. recognize that our employees arewhy we are successful and take pride in recognizing employee successes, (which) may include bringing in a new client or going above and beyond to serve an existing client. We provide bonuses for client development and annual salary increases.”
What makes your company’s benefits offering stand out in the market? “Besides health, dental and life ins-urance, we pay for employees to have smart phones, fitness center memberships, generous paid time off, a 401(k) contribution match and more.”
How does your company support employees’ desires to give back to the community? “The past several years we have supported Special Olympics of Missouri. Employees would help raise money by paying $5 to wear jeans, selling raffle tickets for an iPad and taking time off to volunteer at the event. The firm would give each employee paid time off to volunteer.
“We have also been doing similar activities to raise money for the Joplin Relief fund.”
What is the most celebrated benefit/perk among your staff? “Although it is difficult to narrow down, … the overall atmosphere or culture at our firm is what makes The Whitlock Co. a great place to work.
“The employees and their efforts are appreciated and recognized. They have the freedom to excel and become the best at their jobs.”
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