Small Companies Can Be Great Too

I’ve written before about Fortune Magazine’s annual list of the Best Companies to Work For. Google, Inc. won the latest award by offering an innovative atmosphere and unique benefits like free meals.
Companies in the Upper Cumberland may find it difficult to identify with companies like Google. Fortune’s list only includes companies with at least 1000 employees.

Smaller companies simply can’t afford to provide the kinds of environments provided by such large companies. Or can they?

Four years ago, the Society for Human Resource Management began a similar contest aimed at small and medium-sized companies. The most recent winners were announced at SHRM’s annual conference in June.

This year’s winner in the small company division was Badger Mining Corporation of Berlin, Wisconsin. What immediately stands out about this company is that mining is widely regarded as one of the dirtiest and most dangerous industries in the world. Yet this company finds a way to turn the worst working environment into the best.

The 180 employees at Badger Mining make sand. Sounds pretty glamorous doesn’t it?

Badger Mining didn’t end up at the top of the list by offering the same kinds of perks as Google. They offer paid time off and retirement benefits that are pretty normal. The things that make Badger Mining unique are things that reflect an underlying culture that values each employee.

Employee health is protected in this dangerous industry through award-winning safety programs, health insurance, and a comprehensive wellness program. Family priorities are protected by allowing employees to work flexible schedules and take time off to attend to family matters. The financial needs of employees are met by a generous profit-sharing plan. For some reason, employees who get to share the profit make more of it.

Any new initiative at Badger Mining seeks the advice and input of everyone who will be affected. This practice takes advantage of the expertise in the company. It also increases acceptance of change when the organization must adapt to new challenges.

Aside from Badger Mining, one other company stood out on the list of best small and medium-sized companies to work for. The Right Thing, Inc. is a company with 286 employees based in Findlay, Ohio. They help other companies outsource human resource functions like recruiting and selection. Their practices speak volumes about their values.

Everyone in the company reports to the CEO. Everyone works in the same-sized cubicle. Everyone meets with the CEO every other month. And fifty percent of the profit is divided among the full-time and part-time employees.

On average, employees at The Right Thing spend 220 hours per year in training and professional development. They also receive unlimited paid sick days.

So how do Badger Mining and The Right Thing prevent employees from abusing the flexibility and freedom? Both companies believe in the same philosophy: Hire good people. Give them a reason for wanting the company to succeed and then help them succeed. Amazingly enough, these kinds of companies have no trouble finding good people.

I’m sure we have great places to work in the Upper Cumberland. In fact, I’d love to learn more about them. If you have a great place to work, let me hear about it. Contact me at ttimmerman@tntech.edu.