What does it take to create a workplace where employees truly thrive? Is it competitive salaries and benefits? A fun office environment? Or something deeper—something that makes employees genuinely excited to show up every day?
For six years, we’ve been named a Best Place to Work by the Memphis Business Journal. But this isn’t just an award we applied for; it’s a validation of how we’ve built and maintained a workplace culture that prioritizes engagement, growth, and employee well-being.
In this article, we’ll take you through our journey—why we pursued this recognition, the rigorous evaluation process, and most importantly, the lessons we’ve learned that any business can apply to build a thriving workplace.
We actually sat down on the One Step Better Business Podcast to reflect on this journey and why creating a great workplace isn’t just about the award. If you’d rather listen than read, check it out below.
Why We Set Out to Become a 'Best Place to Work'
We didn’t chase this recognition just for the sake of winning an award. From the beginning, our goal was to create an environment where people enjoy what they do, who they work with, and feel that their work matters.
We’re around our coworkers more than our families sometimes, so having a metric that serves as a scoreboard on how we’re doing—if we’re doing the right things for our employees and, therefore, our organization—was really important.
This award became our litmus test—a way to measure whether we were building the kind of company we aspired to be. If we ever stopped making the list, we’d take it as a sign that something needed to be fixed immediately.
What the 'Best Places to Work' Evaluation Process Looks Like
Many businesses don’t realize what actually goes into being named a Best Place to Work. It’s not a popularity contest or a marketing campaign—it’s based primarily on employee feedback and workplace data.
Employee Surveys: The Most Important Factor
The evaluation process starts with an anonymous survey that every employee must complete, and participation rates must be extremely high—97% or more. The survey covers everything:
- Compensation & Benefits: Are employees satisfied with their pay and perks?
- Work-Life Balance: Do employees feel they can manage work without sacrificing personal life?
- Leadership & Development: Do employees feel supported and see opportunities for growth?
- Culture & Environment: Do employees enjoy working with their team? Do they feel valued?
Employer Narrative: Leadership’s Perspective
In addition to the employee survey, company leadership is required to answer a set of questions about workplace culture, policies, and benefits. The goal is to understand how intentional the company is about creating a great place to work.
The questions focus on everything from unique employee benefits and career development opportunities to workplace culture initiatives and retention strategies.
Ranking & Recognition
The survey data is compiled and compared across all participating companies. The results are based on how employees actually feel about their workplace, not what leadership says.
The fun part of this whole process is that it gives our team another opportunity to give us feedback beyond our normal channels. It’s not about getting the award—it’s about the inputs that drive the award.
If we didn’t care about people, didn’t invest in their well-being, and didn’t offer opportunities to grow, we wouldn’t even be in the conversation.
The Benefits of Being a 'Best Place to Work'
So, why does this recognition matter? Beyond the validation, there are real business benefits to being named a Best Place to Work.
1. Attracting Top Talent
Recruiting the right people is critical to business success. Having this recognition makes us a more attractive option for high-quality candidates.
When people apply for a job here, they often say, ‘I saw that you guys were a Best Place to Work. What does that mean?’
It gives us the opportunity to set expectations early on—this is what our culture looks like, and this is what we expect from our team.
2. Employee Retention & Engagement
Turnover is expensive. A great workplace keeps employees engaged and reduces attrition.
If we were to stop being a Best Place to Work, I’d want to fix it in a hurry. Because that would tell me that something is broken—that we aren’t listening to our employees, that engagement is slipping, that we aren’t taking care of people the way we should.
3. Stronger Business Performance
A strong company culture doesn’t just make employees happier, it improves performance across the board.
Our entire business model is about helping clients succeed. If we’re not a strong company internally, how can we expect to deliver great service externally?
A great workplace creates better employees, which leads to better client experiences, which leads to business growth.
How Any Business Can Become a 'Best Place to Work'
If you’re a business owner or leader wondering how to create a better workplace, here are the key steps we followed:
Step 1: Define What Winning Looks Like
Before applying for recognition, take a step back. What does a great workplace look like for your company? What do your employees need to succeed?
Step 2: Get Employee Feedback & Identify Gaps
Assess where you stand today. Conduct surveys, hold one-on-one meetings, and create an open-door policy so employees feel heard.
Step 3: Make Employee Well-Being a Priority
Beyond salaries and benefits, focus on things that truly impact employees' lives—growth opportunities, work-life balance, and a supportive environment.
Step 4: Commit to Continuous Improvement
Culture isn’t static. It evolves over time, requiring leadership to listen, adapt, and continuously refine how they support their teams. If something isn’t working, fix it.
Being a Best Place to Work isn’t a one-time achievement. It requires ongoing effort, feedback loops, and a willingness to evolve with employee needs.
If you're interested in becoming a Best Place to Work, it doesn’t start with applying. It starts with hiring the right people, developing your team, and continuously improving. The award is just a byproduct of doing those things well.
Building a Workplace People Are Proud of
Creating a great workplace isn’t about gimmicks or chasing awards—it’s about building a culture where employees genuinely enjoy their work and feel valued.
When companies focus on creating genuine, people-first workplaces, everything else falls into place: better hiring, stronger retention, happier customers, and ultimately, a more successful business.
For us, being a Best Place to Work is about more than recognition. It’s a commitment to our employees, our clients, and our mission. And if you’re looking to improve your workplace, start with small, intentional changes that truly make a difference.
To take the next step in strengthening your
company culture, read our guide: How to Create a Winning Corporate Culture.
