Touches of Home at Work

Posted 8/1/2009

Updated 1 decade ago

It may not come as a big surprise that Gainesville-based Crime Prevention Security Systems/Custom Home Entertainment (No. 23 Midsized) has a home-theater room, complete with rich brown leather seats, a 92-inch projection screen and a Blu-ray player. After all, the company installs home entertainment systems. The theater isn’t just to impress customers, however — employees can use it, too. “We’ve had people reserve it to take their spouses there for date night,” says Jorgia McAfee (at right in photo), vice president of operations. “It’s better than going to the actual movies.”

[Photo: Jeffrey Camp]

Ron Sachs Communications in Tallahassee (No. 21 Small) bought an ugly office-supply product warehouse and converted it into an inviting workplace featuring colorful workstations and shared brainstorming areas meant to spark ideas. The design was aimed at stimulating collaboration and creativity between junior and senior staff. The company’s IT team got to design its own small space. “It looks like Austin Powers’ bachelor pad now,” says COO Michelle Ubben.

[Photo: Ron Sachs Communications]

Every Monday morning, the employees of Benefit Advisors (No. 17 Small) find fresh flowers at every workspace. HR director Donna Healy-Strickland puts the flowers out on Sunday afternoons, along with an inspirational quote related to a current work issue or challenge. On a recent day, amid a change in the company’s computer system, orange, yellow and pink gerber daisies brightened the Ocala offices, accompanied by a quote: “Often, success is the ability to adapt.”

[Photo: Jeffrey Camp]

Davidson Realty CEO Jim Davidson makes employees lunch every Friday.

Davidson Realty’s (No. 2 Small) two-story office building in World Golf Village in St. Augustine is built around a stone patio with a huge fireplace that overlooks a pine forest. Company executives hold monthly “fireside chats” for employees — even in the summer — with wine and cheese. This is also where company President Jim Davidson makes employees lunch every Friday, grilling, among other dishes, hamburgers or turkey burgers. “If you’re in Publix on a Friday morning, you’ll see him buying the stuff,” says controller Cindy Vaughn. “He’s an awesome boss and an awesome cook.” [Photo: Davidson Realty]

Alltrust Insurance co-founder Joe Part says caricatures set the tone.

There are no nameplates on the doors of employees’ offices at Alltrust Insurance (No. 5 Small), an employee benefit advisement firm in Palm Harbor. Instead, there are caricatures. Joe Part, who co-founded the firm with his wife, Karen Brayboy, in 1992, says the caricatures reflect the firm’s atmosphere. Alltrust’s bright and cheery offices give off a laid-back, Key West vibe. It’s not uncommon to hear Jimmy Buffett tunes over the office airwaves, and cocktails are encouraged following a hard day’s work. “You’ll never see a tie here,” says Part, who says he wants his close-knit group of 28 employees to feel like they’re at home. He also caters in lunch every day. “Something good happens when you eat together. It’s like a family,” he says.

Alltrust caters lunch for employees every day. [Photo: Jeffrey Camp]

Ted Etlinger (drums) and Nick Phelps (front), both members of the 212 band, get together with Jason Pollner (left) and Jeff Downing (back) at the office. [Photo: Mark Wemple]

The sign on the front door of the offices of IT Authorities in Tampa (No. 1 Small) cautions visitors that it’s 212 degrees inside, all day long. CEO Jason Caras says the sign is to remind his employees of the “212 concept” — at 211 degrees, he explains, water is hot. But at 212 degrees, water boils. That one extra degree, he says, can make all the difference. Not everyone gets the motivational message at first, he admits. “People come up timidly sometimes to touch the door.” Extracurricular activities are strongly encouraged — particularly if they involve music. Case in point: The company is including a band room in its new offices so an employee band called 212 will have a place to practice.

Florida's Best Companies to Work For 2009 Section Lists and Features - Quick Navigation
Best Large Companies • (250 or more employees)	Hiring • Hire Calling	Benefits • Benefits of Being Small
Best Midsized Companies • (50 to 249 employees)	Training • Teach Your Employees Well	Generation Gap • Learning Curve
Best Small Companies • (15 to 49 employees)	Wellness • Waist Not Want Not	Workplace • Touches of Home
Top Performing Companies • (Ranked by category)	Pay • Pay Priorities	Best Practices • Holding on to Good Employees