A quick look at the winners

Arkansas Business, May 18, 2009

SMALL EMPLOYER

GOLD: CROSS GUNTER WITHERSPOON & GALCHUS P.C.

SILVER: ST. FRANCIS COUNTY EMS, FORREST CITY

BRONZE: NAVIGATOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS

MEDIUM EMPLOYER

GOLD: ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION

SILVER: BENCHMARK GROUP

SILVER: DELTA DENTAL OF ARKANSAS

BRONZE: RICH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LARGE EMPLOYER

GOLD: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

SILVER: AEP/SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER CO.

BRONZE: FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #1

BRONZE: 3M

GOLD: CROSS GUNTER WlTHERSPOON & GALCHUS P,C.

Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus P.C. believes that employees should have a quality life at work. "Our line of work is stressful and demanding," said Rick Roderick, the firm's managing director. "We feel it is important to our success ... to have people balance their work with their lives."

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The Little Rock law firm, which primarily handles labor and employment law defense, allows its employees to work flexible hours so they can adapt to a work schedule that fits their needs. Employees can even choose to compress their work week into four 10-hour days.

Another bonus for employees includes the firm's telecommunication system, which can be used when an employee needs to stay home for a family emergency. Also, the firm takes into consideration methods for judging work performance other than just billable hours like most law firms when awarding vacation time to its employees.

While the employees know how to work hard, they also know how to relax. The firm has frequent happy hour parties on Friday afternoons and provides snacks and prizes for employees. Holidays are also a big deal, with a Christmas party at the country club and prizes for the best costume during Halloween. Employees can also play for their health when they join the law firms' sponsored baseball team.

Although it is difficult balancing the firm's work with employees' personal lives, it's gotten easier with the changes the company's put in place, Roderick says.

SILVER: ST. FRANCIS COUNTY EMS, FORREST CITY

St. Francis County EMS does not believe that work and family have to be on opposing sides. To make sure work cuts minimally into home I life, St. Francis has implemented special family-friendly policies.

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To maximize employees' time with their families, St. Francis has visiting hours. Families are allowed to visit at work from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. and can also attend the monthly staff meetings, which include dinner provided by St. Francis.

Another bonus for St. Francis employees is the variety of shifts available. Employees can choose a day or night schedule, as well as a 24-hour shift, which means that an employee would have to work only 10 days in the month to meet full-time hours. Some employees use the flexibility in their shifts to spend more time with their families or even go back to school, according to EMS Director David Herzog.

Other benefits include sick time that can be used not only for employees' illness but also for the illness of any immediate family member within the household, family counseling services at no cost to employees and a payroll deduction plan that helps employees pay for their uniforms.

Without a doubt, when employees are hired, the company doesn't just welcome new staff members, it welcomes whole families - a fact that helps retain employees. "Once employees begin working here and realize what benefits they are receiving along with the work environment here, full-time employees want to stay," Herzog said.

BRONZE: NAVIGATOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The culture at Navigator Telecommunications focuses on keeping spirits high and stress down in a way that many other companies would envy.

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"Our organization was founded by family and ... promotes the family," said Tammie Deaton, Navigator's director of human services. "A balance of work and family makes the employee more committed, dedicated and loyal, and this is the culture we have become successful with."

Navigator rallies its troops once a month for "Spirit Meetings," where employees celebrate and recognize personal and corporate progress. The company also has a healthy spread of incentive and reward programs. In an eight-month program called "Whale Done!" employees were given recognition cards with praise, and at the end of the term, top contenders won all-expense paid cruises.

Employees at Navigator can also enjoy a shortened workweek during the summer. Also, during last year's gas crisis, Navigator helped employees save gas by allowing a four-day workweek or work-from-home options, handing out gas cards randomly, giving weekly luncheons and offering carpool options.

Energizing employees throughout the year are the holiday celebrations, such as the Cinco de Mayo fiesta, Mardi Gras party, chili cook-off and Halloween decoration and costume contests.

To advance healthy lifestyle choices, the company hosts wellness seminars, nutrition demos, Weight Watchers at Work, "walkout' picnics, bike rides and smoking cessation classes. The fitness challenge program with rewards has dramatically improved employee health across the board.