SANTA FE, NM (BRAIN) Friday August 3 2012—For the past five years Outside Magazine has annually compiled a list of the Best Places to Work, first naming 30, then 50 and now 100 companies that encourage employees to pursue and achieve a healthy work-life balance. This year, 17 bike industry businesses made the cut.
Sliding in at Number 5 was Dero Bike Racks, a Minneapolis-based bicycle rack and locker manufacturer. Dero intertwines cycling with work, allowing employees to earn $3 each time they commute to work on bike. Many employees ride to meetings around town.
Outdoor sports and recreation research firm Leisure Trends Group earned the 42nd ranking for keeping employees “collaborative and casual” in Boulder, Colorado. The company encourages employees to break up the workday with outside play and exercise and hands out free ski passes for the Eldora Mountain Resort.
“I think the fact that so many of our people have been with us for upwards of a decade is the best testimony to the workplace and environment we all enjoy," said Charlie Cooper, president of Leisure Trends Group.
Outside ranked California’s CamelBak Products at number 48. “From a shorts-and-flip-flops dress code to lunchtime rides in a cycling Mecca to product meetings at a nearby microbrew, the company culture is pretty sweet,” said Seth Beiden, marketing manager at CamelBak. Employees also get two paid volunteer days each year to support local nonprofits any way they choose.
Adventure Cycling Association, a bike tour organizer based in Missoula, Montana, snagged the 89th spot with its motto of “the family that plays together, stays together.”
The staff at Adventure Cycling organizes baseball games, hockey nights and camping trips while also enjoying powder days and classes at the local university. "It's great to be back on this important list," said Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association. "We have worked really hard with staff to create an improved combination of work environment, benefits and pay and inspiring mission.”
Other industry companies that made the list were New Belgium Brewing, Strava, Clif Bar, Smith Optics, Boa Technology, Quality Bicycle Products, Gazelle Sports, Pearl Izumi, Osprey Packs, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Bern Unlimited, SmartWool and Trek Bicycle Corporation.
In conducting the yearlong search, Outside Magazine enlisted the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group, distributed confidential employee questionnaires and thoroughly analyzed the responses.
For the full list, visit www.outsideonline.com.
