2010 Choice Employers, 5 to 24 Employees No. 2: GeoEngineers Inc.

Engineering company GeoEngineers Inc. has 17 employees in its Springfield office. The waiting period is six months or less to participate in profit sharing or gain stock options. The company pays 100 percent of health insurance premiums for all employees and more than half of premiums for dependents. Annual bonuses averaging more than $1,000 are available to all employees. The company offers tuition reimbursement for work-related study, and employees are given feedback on performance annually. Other benefits include subsidized gym memberships.

Alan Snider, principal and leader of GeoEngineers’ south business unit, answers SBJ’s questions:

How would you describe your company’s culture?
GeoEngineers’ culture derives from our core values, which include providing unparalleled service to our clients, demonstrating absolute integrity in all we do and achieving technical excellence in our operations and work products. The firm is employee-owned so our people are motivated to be innovative and collaborate.

Beyond financial compensation, what benefits are most important to your staff?
We ask our employees this question each year through online surveys, and they’ve told us the most important benefits to them are GeoEngineers’ medical plan, vacation and sick time, their work space and/or work environment, our 401(k) plan and the opportunity to share ownership of the firm.

How do you reward employee accomplishments?
We have monthly World Class Client Service Awards for which employees are nominated from within the firm. Recognition of the WCCS award recipients is sent out via email to all employees, and the winners receive a cash bonus and a commemorative plaque. GeoEngineers also gives “spot” bonuses for various reasons, such as when employees have provided exemplary service or a client is especially pleased with their work. Service awards start at five years.

What intangible perks make your company a great place to work?
Because GeoEngineers’ employees work hard, we encourage breaks and camaraderie with Wii games in the conference room at lunch and monthly birthday celebrations. Employees also participate in activities outside of work and get to know each other through a casual atmosphere in the office.

What makes your company a family-friendly employer?
GeoEngineers offers flexible work schedules. Recognizing employees have obligations outside of work, we also allow employees to bring their children – or dogs – to work if necessary. Most children don’t mind playing Wii while mom or dad works, anyway. GeoEngineers also shares significantly in dependent premiums and recognizes domestic partners the same as spouses with regard to benefits. We celebrate each other’s families with events outside of work, including picnics and barbecues.

Just for Fun
If there were no limitations – budget or otherwise – what benefit would you begin offering employees tomorrow?
A luxury suite at Missouri State University, JQH Arena or the Springfield Cardinals would be nice. Even better would be building an employee-friendly, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-certified facility near Lake Springfield or next to Ozarks Greenways trails so employees could enjoy the outdoors and beauty of the Ozarks on lunch hours or breaks. I’d also like to have a workout area with locker rooms and shower facilities on site.[[In-content Ad]]