Firespring, one of the largest communications firms in the Midwest, has been named to Inc.’s inaugural 50 Best Workplaces list. The list includes American companies with up to 500 employees that deploy state-of-the-art techniques to keep their staffs happy and productive. According to Inc., selection criteria include valuing company culture, offering standout worker benefits and prioritizing employee wellbeing. The full list of award winners and feature coverage of the Best Workplaces program are included in the June issue of Inc. Magazine and at Inc.com.
Firespring founder and CEO Jay Wilkinson says a great workplace doesn’t happen by accident.
“From the beginning Firespring has sought to create a supportive and innovative culture. We value ideas from team members to improve our work environment,” Wilkinson said. “We want everyone at Firespring to enjoy their time here and make the most of their time away from the office.”
Inc. worked with employee engagement and culture experts Quantum Workplace of Omaha, Nebraska, to measure criteria related to the employee experience. The resulting list shows how innovative companies can truly raise the bar in hiring and keeping the best talent.
“We hear it over and over again from the fast-growing businesses we cover: The biggest challenge that any business owner faces is finding and keeping the best people. That’s why building a workplace culture that allows your staff to grow with your company is absolutely crucial,” explains Inc.’s President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “Recipients of the Inc. Best Workplaces Awards have done so in spades. They should be celebrated and emulated.”
Some of the unconventional benefits at Firespring include unlimited vacation, flexible work hours and catered lunches. The workspace includes an open-area “Firepit” with games including pool, ping pong and shuffleboard. Team members give back eight hours per month volunteering (on the clock) for nonprofit organizations of their choice. And the Firespring “Culture Club” organizes social and volunteer events to bring team members together throughout the year.
Firespring appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for the fifth time in 2015. Based in Lincoln, the company is in the process of consolidating its Omaha printing and creative agency teams in a newly renovated facility near Aksarben Village. Firespring has grown significantly over the last 18 months through mergers and acquisitions, employing more than 250 team members in Lincoln, Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Wilkinson says creating a great workplace is a key to growth.
“A business can’t grow without talented people,” said Wilkinson. “At Firespring we’ve developed a company culture that helps us attract and retain people who have the talent and ingenuity to help us succeed.”
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