The Coolest Companies to Call Your Home Away from Home
By Arkansas NEXT on Monday, October 25, 2021
The workplace is changing! Employers are learning that it takes a lot more than a paycheck to keep employees happy. Here are some businesses who have gone above and beyond when it comes to taking care of their workers.
ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S
Employees: 3,740 | Little Rock and Springdale
Arkansas Children’s is the premier source for pediatric care in the state, with two hospitals, a research institute, a foundation and a statewide network of clinics comprising its health care system. The network cares for its caregivers through programs by setting annual goals and providing the tools and resources from its corporate university, Improvement U, to enhance their career growth journey.
1. Concierge services
2. OneTeam Portal
3. Improvement U Program
In 2019, the health system launched the “OneTeam Connect Portal” where team members can post volunteer opportunities to support internal and external needs in the community. In 2020, they launched a concierge service to allow employees to access services like oil changes, dry cleaning and grocery shopping while they work. They also support team members with food insecurities through a partnership with the UAMS Stocked and Reddie Food Pantry.
WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING
“Health care workers are known for being the worst patients and being the worst at taking care of themselves. There is a lot of compassion fatigue and always looking after someone else, which means they don’t always look after themselves.
"My job is to ensure that the people who take care of the kids of Arkansas are taken care of...whether that’s their health or that they get celebrated or that they feel like they are a part of the team. I help make sure that all of those boxes are checked.”
“The employees that I have share the same goal as far as why we are [here]. …[We] all have the same goal. We all enjoy working [here] because of the mission to take care of kids. We all love doing what we’re doing.”
ARKANSAS BUSINESS PUBLISHING GROUP // FLEX360
Employees: ABPG - 57 • Flex360 - 10 | Little Rock
Arkansas Business Publishing Group is an award-winning digital marketing and media company producing more than 30 publications, including Arkansas NEXT and Arkansas NEXT: PROS, and featuring one of the leading digital marketing agencies in the region.
1. Marketing executives
2. Digital marketing specialists
3. Account executives
The average tenure of an employee at ABPG is 7.25 years, with 55% of the staff having worked there five years or more and 32% of the staff having worked there 10 years or more.
ABPG is the leading niche magazine company in the region bringing together targeted audiences and the advertisers that want to reach them. Flex360 digital marketing agency uses the latest technology, analytics and strategies to solve marketing challenges for a diverse group of clients throughout the United States. The team delivers data-driven solutions to drive measurable results for all its customers.
The work environment is definitely a massive perk for employees. People can bring their dogs to work, birthdays are celebrated every month with cake and the frequent team-building trivia games and holiday celebrations boost morale. The company also provides for a springtime retreat at Petit Jean Mountain.
WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING
“I love that ABPG prioritizes a fun work environment. Not only is our office dog-friendly — and we have regulars — but we also have monthly ‘TWEAK’ events that bring the office together for games and food.”
“I enjoy the people in and outside of our company that we get to work with on a daily basis. Everyone is extremely talented and goes out of their way to see a project through. Everyone puts their best foot forward and you can't find that everywhere.”
“Flex360 is a great place to work for many reasons. I would say one of the main reasons is because of the nature of the work we do and how fulfilling it is. It's definitely the best job I've ever had.”
"You will know a company is a great place to work if its leaders focus on customer and employee satisfaction as much as they focus on the company's bottom line."
MOVISTA
Employees: 102 | Bentonville
Movista makes every effort to ensure the office is the kind of place where people want to work and creates opportunities for employees to team build through happy hours, online gaming tournaments, trivia, music sharing, hot dog eating competitions, virtual coffee and conversation and more.
1. PTO, monthly paid volunteer leave and paid parental leave
2. Free recreation and activities
3. Fully stocked kitchen, complete with a double kegerator to dispense local craft brews
The office itself is located right next to The Momentary and the Razorback Greenway Trail system, for which they can borrow any of the three bicycles and two e-scooters. Basketball, pingpong, shuffleboard, video games and puzzles offer plenty of stimulating activities and opportunities for bonding. (There are also showers available to freshen up afterward.)
Taking care of its people is one of Movista’s core values.
WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING
“Movista fosters a culture where people are empowered to do great work. The business embraces flexibility and that really helps people do their best. This support makes happy teams and happy teams build amazing products.”
BANK OZK
Employees: 2,839 | Based in Little Rock with jobs statewide
Bank OZK is nationally recognized as one of the highest performing banks in the U.S. because they pour so much time into motivating their employees. Everyone who works at Bank OZK is trained in providing exceptional customer service, working as a team, doing right and pursuing excellence. This helps build morale and a sense of belonging.
1. Banking services
2. Paid parental leave
3. OZK Kudos awards
Bank OZK celebrates anniversary milestones while also providing opportunities for community service, pet insurance, paid parental leave, peer recognition and awards and rewards for performance.
During the pandemic, Bank OZK expanded paid leave, added health care provisions, encouraged career counseling and applied social distancing policies and procedures to keep their employees safe.
WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING
“There is a lot of investment in the people. We do a lot of work with other departments… you meet so many different personalities and talents that you get to work with.”
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Citizens Bank: management team members each took a pie to the face to raise money for breast cancer.
Perks Worldwide: invites employees to use a houseboat, Jet Ski and ski boat for fun in the sun on annual Lake Day.
Chi St. Vincent Hospital Hot Springs: leadership cooks pancakes and omelets for their night shift workers every quarter.
First Service Bank: employees are provided with Sonic drinks and coffee each week.
Imageworks Commercial Interiors: provides two zero gravity massage chairs!
Medical Center of South Arkansas: awards the team member of the quarter a gift, $300 and a plaque. The team member of the year gets a gift, $1,000 and all-expense-paid trip to Nashville for the team member of the year banquet.
Rainwater Holt & Sexton: gives their new hires a welcome bag with a personalized Yeti cup and their choice of company branded clothing.
RoofConnect: throws weekday cookouts for employees.
USAble Life: employees get to enjoy “Out For Recess” days where all employees are provided lunch and a half-day off to go outside and play games or watch a movie.
VCC Construction: employees who stay with the company for 20 years receive a Rolex watch.
See some more of The Best Places to Work in Arkansas!
