Ingredients for a Best Place to Work: Austin-based Sock Club (asi/88072) knows it owes its success to its people.

“We do business with integrity, and every member of our team takes personal ownership of delivering the best possible product and experience to the people we serve,” says Noah Lee, CEO and founder. “We’ve been deliberate about building a team that is smart, kind, hardworking and genuinely fun to work alongside — and that shows up every day in the way we treat each other and our customers.”

Sock Club (asi/88072) employees break a world record by creating the largest word made from socks.

Sock Club has grown consistently year over year (except for in 2020, when, like many companies, it was hit by the financial impacts of COVID-19). And when a company grows, so do its people. “That kind of environment is what builds the loyal workforce and top-notch culture that makes employees simply love where they work,” Lee says.

Top Benefits & Perks: In addition to health insurance and a 401(k) with a company match, Sock Club employees receive regular bonuses that are paid out when the company hits its revenue goals. Staff members can also take advantage of professional development and continuing education through conferences, webinars, courses and dedicated Slack channels for shared learning.

Meanwhile, employee recognition is a weekly occurrence at Sock Club. “We hold a ‘Sock Stars’ segment where teammates publicly recognize each other’s contributions,” Lee explains. “We also present a ‘Hero of the Week’ award. The previous week’s winner selects and presents the award to their chosen recipient, creating a meaningful peer-to-peer tradition.”

Parting Tip: “Celebrate often and specifically – small wins matter, and public recognition of good work reinforces the behaviors you want to see more of,” Lee says. “Encourage your team to celebrate each other, not just wait for recognition from the top down.”

If Sock Club Were a TV Show, It Would Be Parks and Recreation. “We have our Leslie Knopes (relentlessly optimistic, customer-obsessed, will not rest until the job is done right), our Ben Wyatts (the quiet analytical geniuses holding everything together) and, yes, our Tom Haverford-level enthusiasts who bring way too much energy to every brainstorm and somehow make it work,” Lee says.