Boston Jobs Blog

A supportive and stimulating work atmosphere has always been key to employee retention and satisfaction.  Every year, the Boston Business Journal honors those companies that have cultivated exceptional work environments at its Best Places to Work breakfast. As a platinum sponsor of the event, Hollister, Inc. delved into what makes this year’s honorees truly the best, asking companies like Infinity Pharmaceuticals and Skanska USA Building Inc. to reveal how they have gone about creating award-winning work atmospheres. Hollister, Inc. has chosen to sponsor the event year after year because the company recognizes the value in creating an attractive work environment.  

“Today’s job seekers are looking to work for companies with personality and that put employees first when it comes to daily office life,” said Kip Hollister, Founder and CEO of Hollister, Inc. “The companies that the BBJ recognizes annually understand that each employee is integral to their success and therefore an asset. They are committed to nurturing a stimulating, positive work environment, as a means to retain and attract quality employees.”

For an inside look at the cultures of this year’s recognized companies, read on.

Infinity Pharmaceuticals’ Sr. Director of Human Resources, Jeanette Kohlbrenner, answered our questions about the company’s culture

Q: This is the 2^nd year in a row that the BBJ has recognized Infinity as one of the Best Places to Work. Please describe Infinity’s culture.

Spend a just a few minutes with us and you will discover what it is to be part of Infinity’s culture. You’ll find that no one, including the CEO, has an office; our work environment encourages transparent communications and collaboration. “Huddle” rooms are available for anyone who needs a quiet place to work, have a discussion, or hold a meeting. We “check our titles at the door” because we realize that a great idea can come from anyone at any level. Infinity’s culture encourages open, honest and candid feedback.

Q: What about Infinity’s work environment makes it award-winning?

We believe that how we collaborate on the discovery and development of important medical innovations is essential to our overall success. At Infinity we are not employees, but Citizen Owners. Citizen-ownership empowers us to think innovatively and achieve our fullest potential to accomplish our goals. At Infinity, we believe our culture and environment of citizen-ownership is as important as our technologies. We are not just employees; each of us plays a vital role in the scientific, business, and financial success of the company.

Q: How is Infinity’s work environment different from your competitors’ environments?

The culture of Citizen-Ownership is central to Infinity and a key differentiator between us and our competitors.  Some quotes from Citizen Owners:

“We work in an environment where there is mutual respect between COs and the company. One cannot succeed without the other and we always continue to focus on creating this positive environment.” 

“This is my company and I’m responsible for its and my success.”

“I have the right to expect Infinity to provide me with a good environment to work in and to develop professionally, but I also have the responsibility to communicate openly, voice my opinions, and take action to make the right things happen.”

“I have a direct impact on the company, every day.”

“Our culture differentiates us from others and is an important part of what makes us special.”

“I do what I do because it is important and adds value to the enterprise, not just because someone told me to do it. I know that my success is dependent on others and vice versa such that I genuinely want others to succeed and feel the same coming back. The mutual trust is palpable.”

“Citizen-ownership means being part of something that together we own and make great.”

“Employees work for a company. Citizen-Owners work as a community.”

Q: What strategies has Infinity employed to cultivate an award-winning environment?

Infinity focuses on creating a mutually beneficial environment for both the company and its citizen-owners.  Infinity offers a competitive benefits package including benefits not generally offered by competitors such as a Sabbatical Leave (4 weeks of paid time off after every 5 years of employment). We also put a lot of emphasis on Professional Development and personal growth.  Each Citizen Owner has a development plan with goals aligned to meet both company and individual needs.  We have robust internal seminar/professional development programs offered on a regular basis. We take pride in making sure all Citizen Owners meet and interact cross-functionally.  Just as importantly, we also like to take a break and have some fun together.  Just this year we’ve had a company lunch for opening day of the Red Sox, weekly social hours, the Ice Cream truck visit, a company outing to a Red Sox game, department specific outings and other activities that allow us to get to know each other better and increase our strong sense of community.

Q: While many companies are focusing on the financial hardships of today’s recession, do you see these tough times as an opportunity for growth and development? 

Infinity has a burgeoning pipeline of internally discovered product candidates in multiple clinical trials, the financial profile to aggressively pursue the development of this pipeline, and lastly, and perhaps most importantly, a team of scientists and businesspeople who have well-established track records in discovering, developing, and bringing to the market important new therapies, and building successful and value-accretive businesses. Our strategy for growth and development ensures that we have a diverse pipeline of product candidates and the infrastructure necessary to prosecute it. We are committed to building a product portfolio that is absolutely essential to building a sustainable enterprise capable of attracting both the capital and the people necessary to execute on it in order to achieve our mission and improve the quality of life for patients.

Skanska USA Building Inc.’s Area General Manager, Paul Hewins, answered our questions.

Q: Please describe your company culture.

Our company culture revolves around our core values that include our commitment to sustainability, quality, business ethics, and safety.  Our offices all adhere to these values, across the country and across the globe.  We strive to be socially responsible and give back to the communities where we live and work.  It’s important for us to make a positive contribution.

Q: How have you cultivated an award-winning work environment?

Our mission to be the leader in our home markets is achieved through strict adherence to our values and is a driving force behind our business.  Our commitment to outperforming and exceeding client expectations is what motivates all of us.

Q: With offices around the world, how do you maintain a consistent company culture?  What are some of the challenges you face?

We have a strong brand that includes core values that our employees rally around and truly believe in what the company stands for.  Our values are consistent, from our injury-free environment policy to our zero defects policy; we strive to deliver client satisfaction, from Sweden to Boston to London to New York, across all corners of the globe.

Q: Skanska has a strong commitment to green building (currently ranked the #1 Green Builder in the U.S. by Engineering News-Record).  How has your environmental consciousness impacted your company culture?

Sustainability is built into our corporate culture and every decision that we make.  It permeates not just the construction work that we do, but also everything we do on a daily basis in our offices.  From our dedication to running all operations in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment including ways to streamline processes, reduce waste, reuse materials and conserve energy and water.  This commitment to reducing environmental impact and work toward long-term sustainable business practices all makes up our zero environmental incidents policy.

Q: Your Philadelphia office was just named one of the city’s most charitable companies, how do you think your company’s commitment to charity is reflected in your Boston office? How does it contribute to your company culture as a whole?

We have always had a strong culture of giving back in our communities. In Boston, we participate in many charitable endeavors and try to involve as many of our staff in these as possible. For instance we recently sponsored a home for Rebuilding Together Boston’s “National Rebuilding Day,” an organization that works to preserve affordable housing and home ownership and to revitalize neighborhoods in the city of Boston. Our site sponsorship along with volunteers from our company helped a single mother and her son by making critical repairs and upgrades to their home, at no cost to them. We were even able to build a basketball court for her son. This was an opportunity for us to not just give an organization our financial support, but to also donate the time and expertise of our staff.

Q: While many companies are focusing on the financial hardships of today’s recession, do you see these tough times as an opportunity for potential growth and development?

At Skanska we have a well-balanced, diversified list of clients and projects across key sectors that include institutional, life science, aviation, and commercial projects throughout the New England region. As a result, we are not overly reliant on any one sector for revenue which allows us to weather tough economic climates. We also have a mix of large anchor projects alongside smaller projects with both long-term and short-term construction needs that allow us to remain well-balanced in the marketplace.