Ingredients for a Best Place to Work: A fourth-generation, family-owned business, Goldner Associates (asi/209800) has a long history of promoting (and adhering to) its values of honesty, respect and dedication to its employees.

While most staff work remotely up to four days each week, the in-office day is the same for everyone: Wednesday, a decision made to encourage social interaction and build camaraderie through special engagement activities like birthday celebrations, sports team spirit day and a hot chocolate bar.

Amid this hybrid work environment, company leaders have concocted additional ways to connect employees with one another and Goldner’s values. The company runs daily department huddles on Teams, distributes Goldner-branded goodies and volunteers as a team with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Every monthly meeting, meanwhile, spotlights two employees, who share information about themselves, their families and their interests.

“We have such a dedicated, honest, fun and hard-working team of people – with different backgrounds and strengths – and our management style encourages open, two-way communication throughout the company, giving everyone a safe space to be seen and heard,” says Laurie Aronoff, the company’s director of marketing.

Top Benefits & Perks: Boasting a full selection of traditional benefits, including employee health/vision/dental insurances, 401(k) plus matching, indemnity insurance plans and a generous paid time off policy, Goldner also prioritizes employee engagement and appreciation. With its peer-to-peer recognition program, Cheers to Peers, Goldner employees demonstrate their appreciation toward one another with words of thanks and opportunities to win prizes.