Volume 41, Issue 8 - August 2006

LINETEC - The Industry’s Best Companies to Work For:

What makes a company “the best” to work for? Is there truly just one quality that makes a company so? If so, what is it? The answer, it seems, is complex. According to feedback from companies participating in our Best Companies to Work for in the Glass Industry survey, there are many, many qualities that make a company the best. Believe it or not, some things are more important than medical insurance. Most employees say that what is most important to them is being treated like they matter, as if they are part of a family when they go to work and as though their voice and opinion matters. When asked why their company was the best or the one quality that made it unique, many respondents used words and phrases like “family atmosphere,” “open-door policy,” “personalization” and “team effort” to describe their companies. Others said flexibility was the key.

To determine our winners, survey results for each returned form were tabulated using a weighted scale for each benefit the company offers. These averages were based on a massive survey conducted in 2001 that asked readers which benefits they considered most important.

There are a few points to keep in mind as you read through the rankings. Only companies offering paid maternity leave received points for this benefit and companies that offered 100-percent employer-paid medical insurance received a bonus point. Employee turnover is listed as an annual percentage of total workforce for informational purposes only and was not included in the company’s score. There are also a number of abbreviations used throughout the entries: STD: short-term disability; LTD: long-term disability; FMLA: Family Medical Leave Act; FSP: Flexible Spending Plan.

We also asked respondents to explain their companies’ unique characteristics, as well as what makes them one of the best to work for. Qualities ranged from exceptionally maintained facilities and operating equipment, to a quality workforce and having safety as priority one. The answers are included with each entry, so you can read the employees’ own words as to what makes their companies the best. (Note: some answers were edited for space considerations.)
 

1: Linetec, Wausau, Wis.

Employees: 400
Turnover: 31 percent
Medical: 75 percent employer paid.
Dental: 75 percent employer paid.
Retirement/Pension: Employer matches up to 30 percent of employee contribution, up to 6 percent of annual compensation.
Profit Sharing: Yes.
LTD: Yes. STD: Yes.
Life Insurance: Yes.
Stock: Yes.
Vacation: Amount of time given based on years of service, up to four weeks.
Sick/Personal: Three days
FSP: Yes.
Maternity: Six to 12 weeks paid under STD; unpaid up to 12 weeks under FMLA.
Pay Increase: Annually.
Education Benefits: Full or partial reimbursement for continuing education; partial reimbursement for technical school, undergraduate and graduate studies; full reimbursement for training courses. 
Other benefits: Paid uniforms; winter celebration; service awards; long-term core insurance; incentive plan; full-time occupational nurse on staff; company picnic and health fair for employees and families; employee assistance program; health awareness discounts to health clubs; safety recognition; plant cookouts and clothing awards; gift cards at Thanksgiving; meal rewards for on-time and correct shipment goals; ACE Awards (associates creating excellence); vacation incentive plan; time off as a reward for meeting specific production and quality metrics; diversity council.
In their own words: Linetec and its employees live by the company’s core values: a safe and enjoyable workplace; strong customer focus; respect for the individual; continuous improvement in products; services and business processes; environmentally responsible; open communications; ownership and pride; teamwork; honesty and integrity; opportunities based on performance; and coaching and training. Our technology, state-of-the-art facility and equipment, flexible management style and diverse workforce also make us one of the best companies to work for.