Best Places to Work: Welsco Inc.

How do you manage to get employees from 16 locations in six different states in the same place?

A companywide picnic does the trick for Welsco, a family-owned business specializing in welding and industrial gas supplies.

Employees and family members from a territory that includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri gather each year for a celebration of the company and each other. It’s one of the highlights of each year for the 76 year-old company.

Customers and suppliers are invited each year to an annual bass fishing tournament on Lake Ouachita, one of the perks that keep far-flung employees connected.

Employees who go “above and beyond” are rewarded each month with a $100 bonus. Nominations are solicited from peers and supervisors. Quarterly bonuses are paid to workers who are not part of the incentive pay program.

Staff interested in furthering their education are encouraged to take part in a tuition reimursement program for masters and undergraduate degrees. Eligible employees can also attend job-related training programs and the Dale Carnegie Sales Training program.

It isn’t unusual to catch dogs and children around the office. Staff are allowed to bring them along if they are in a bind with childcare or have a sick pet.