{"id":3019,"date":"2015-10-13T12:22:17","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T16:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timandrewsblog-asicentral.com\/timblog\/?p=3019"},"modified":"2015-10-13T12:22:17","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T16:22:17","slug":"build-a-better-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timandrewsblog-asicentral.com\/timblog\/2015\/10\/13\/build-a-better-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Build a Better Company"},"content":{"rendered":"

Until recently, very few companies gave much thought to their \u201ccorporate culture.\u201d How times have changed. Now, smart companies go out of their way to ensure employees maintain a proper life-work balance and that they\u2019re as happy as they are productive.<\/p>\n

As studies have shown, unhappy workers goof off more and are less motivated. But if you reward them with decent pay, good benefits, meaningful work, flexible schedules and occasional breaks from the daily grind, your<\/em> reward is often higher profits.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

How different companies meet and often exceed employee needs and expectations is at the heart of our Counselor<\/em> Best Places to Work issue, now in print and online. The annual issue lists the 75 best places to work<\/a> (as voted on by employees) in the promotional products industry, along with profiles of several winning companies and info on creating a great workplace, from motivating employees and retaining top talent to creating unique jobs and celebrating staff accomplishments.<\/p>\n

Florida-based supplier The Book Company<\/a> (asi\/41010) scored the number-one spot. The 16-employee company, of Delray Beach, was founded by Doug Greenhut and supplies blank and customized books.<\/p>\n

I expected to see a passion for books and extraordinary service and support encouraged in a list of corporate beliefs, but was delighted to also find celebrating success, taking a break and walking a dog earn merit. No wonder surveyed employees cited the company\u2019s refreshing flexibility and fun, laid-back atmosphere as key ingredients of a winning corporate formula.<\/p>\n

As Counselor<\/em> editors and writers discovered during their research, which included a summer road tour<\/a> to personally visit some of the top companies, \u201cgreat places to work aren\u2019t built by accident. They are the product of conscious and thoughtful planning.\u201d<\/p>\n

I encourage you to read the entire issue and consider what practices might fly at your own workplace. Here are just a few examples to get you thinking:<\/p>\n

Stran Promotional Solutions (asi\/337725), of Quincy, MA:<\/strong><\/p>\n