Low turnover and long tenures are the hallmarks of a healthy company, according to Michael Sapp, president and CEO of Sapp Design Associates.
"We have extremely low turnover, and that's what we are trying to target," he says. The architecture firm cited a turnover rate of 5 percent or less on its Choice Employers application, which Sapp says benefits the company.
"It's not beneficial for any employer to be in transition all the time," he adds.
Executive Secretary Kathy Allee has worked at Sapp Design Associates for 12 years.
"(Sapp's) just a really great boss and makes it clear that all of the projects are a team effort," Allee says. "He seems to hire people who mesh, and that makes it a good place to work."
Among the firm's recent projects are the Waynesville R-VI School District's $12.9 million career center and Associated Electric Cooperative's roughly $8 million headquarters expansion and renovation now under way at 2814 S. Golden Ave.
On all projects, employees are responsible for helping clients make day-to-day decisions.
"If people believe there is a different way to handle an operation, part of the empowerment approach is to let everyone determine that," Sapp says.
He values open communication, which includes Monday morning management meetings; newsletters that talk about current events, deadlines and special issues; and monthly all-staff meetings.
"We provide an open agenda at these meetings where anybody can bring an issue to the meeting," Sapp says. "We found over the years that by having all these meetings and producing (documentation), which is left on the Intranet for everyone to read, everyone is clued in on projects. One thing we are trying to prevent is a lack of information that could turn into a controversy, concerns or employee issues. By having it open, we mitigate that to a degree."
Employees make the most of educational reimbursements available for professional development, licenses and the company's paid sick leave policy. The company promotes training and community service through career fairs, special events and participating in student shadowing projects.
Culturally, Sapp Design encourages quarterly socials and company-sponsored outings, such as an annual summer party that takes place on a local lake.
Contributions to the company's retirement plan are matched dollar-for dollar up to 3 percent, and participants are immediately fully vested.
The firm recently started covering 100 percent of employee premiums for medical and dental coverage.
"We want to promote and encourage health, so we also have a health and wellness reimbursement program," Sapp says.
"If somebody joins a gym or an exercise class, or wants to quit smoking, we'll contribute to that."[[In-content Ad]]* Tie broken by essay
2009 Choice Employers, 5 to 24 Employees No. 1: GeoEngineers Inc.
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2009 Choice Employees Honorees
