WHY WE THINK WE'RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

Nina Hale is one of the largest digital marketing agencies in the Midwest. Because we're employee-owned, our people are serious about getting it right every time. We put our people first, and place great importance on supporting employees, both professionally and personally. Our shared PTO policy allows employees to gift each other PTO days in situations where coworkers simply need more time for personal matters. One of the most significant things that Nina Hale offers is the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), which makes the agency 100% employee-owned. The agency offers a three-year cliff-vesting schedule to ensure that employees don't have to wait years to benefit from this plan. Voices are heard, whether to celebrate a promotion or to register a complaint about fridge space. We celebrate each other's achievements both professionally (during our weekly recognition awards during the all-staff meeting) and personally (during our office-wide events like baby showers and bridal celebrations). To say our company culture is unique is an understatement, and we foster this spirit every chance we get. At least once a month we sponsor an all-company field trip or event to give employees the chance to unwind and get to know each other outside of work.

We operate with two core goals: to be the best place to buy travel insurance and the best place to work. Despite a 90 percent decrease in sales, we kept our entire staff working full hours, at full pay, with no layoffs through the pandemic. We require all employees to take at least 10 vacation days per year, not including sick days, personal days, or birthdays, which come with a $200 beer bonus. Prior to the pandemic, employees would gather for fun events and happy hours.

To care for our customers and their needs, it is essential to take care of ourselves. We offer unlimited PTO and encourage each staff member to use their time off to disconnect, gain perspective, and focus on their overall well-being. Biyearly, we gather all 50-plus employees at a single location to connect, problem-solve, and brainstorm. If we reach our goals for the year, the entire company is rewarded with a trip to the beach. Some companies celebrate their sales representatives; we work hard to appreciate everyone’s contributions to our success.

WHY WE THINK WE'RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

We focus on our employees, most of whom work remotely. We really try to make it a team atmosphere, even though 80% of our workforce works outside of our corporate office.

WHY WE THINK WE'RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

This is a very subjective question. This is a question I ask of my employees each year, and this year I decided to enter this contest as a result of their answers. When I asked this year I got answers such as "This place is like family"; "I've never felt so valued as an employee before"; "The culture here is amazing"; "I feel that my opinions count here"; and "I don't see myself ever working anywhere else." These are what I feel are qualities of a "Best Place to Work," and they describe my company to a tee.