Best Places to Work 2024: No. 2 Processor: KI Industries Inc.

Founded in 1964, Berkeley, Ill.-based KI Industries Inc. describes its culture as "dynamic and harmonious, built upon a foundation that supports KI's core values of health, safety and work-life balance, customer focus, authentic trust and respect, curious problem-solvers, passion and drive that inspires others to action," as stated in its Best Places to Work submission.

The supplier of decorative products promotes a trustworthy win-win environment with respectful flexibility.

"At KI, we strongly empathize with internal and external customers' needs, understanding their expectations through responsive and effective communication, creating strong win-win relationships," the company said.

A cross-functional team came together to provide the definition for a curious problem-solver: "One who takes a humble, respectful, yet relentless approach by working cross-functionally to explore and discover the optimal solution for both internal and external customers."

The company has incorporated ideas and practices from The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni to drive its culture: "The leadership team works very hard to demonstrate these values in the process of building authentic trust and respect within their teams and to ensure new hires have those same qualities coming in."

Among KI Industries' senior-level positions, 40 percent are held by women, the highest percent among all Best Places to Work companies.

KI Industries reviews its Best Places to Work survey findings each year and compares year-over-year results, determining actions for future and continuous improvement.

The company streamlined its previous three employee surveys to just the Best Places to Work survey in 2022, addressing concerns of improvement overload. In 2023, feedback from employees led to the initiation of a culture REBOOT (Reuniting Employees by Optimizing Organizational Trust) campaign. Human resources led a full overhaul with 16 cross-functional ambassadors to align the entire team.

"KI anticipates exceptional results by prioritizing culture, aiming for improved engagement. Survey results will inform continuous improvement decisions against the established baseline," the company said.

Prior to COVID-19 lockdowns, only 10 percent of employees were telecommuting for work. Currently, 86 percent of KI employees telecommute.

To help connect with the business, telecommuting employees are encouraged to attend employee appreciation days, celebrations and town hall meetings to have a face-to-face casual interaction with co-workers.

"Flexibility for employees to meet the needs of family scheduling are accommodated to encourage work-life balance," the company said. "These practices have made it easier for employees to engage with one another because of the relationship capital that has been built, which leads to heightened trust and respect and builds upon the foundation of KI's core values."

In 2012, KI Industries transitioned to a 100 percent employee stock ownership plan, "a move that further solidified its dedication to its valued workforce," the company said. It offers a defined contribution of at least 8 percent toward employee retirement.

"Over the last 11 years, the contribution has been in the double digits. In 2023, a new retirement savings plan in conjunction with the existing ESOP was introduced," KI Industries said.

Every October, it celebrates ESOPtober to increase ESOP awareness and education for new employees. Past activities have included a hockey shootout, chili cook-off, free-throw contest, cornhole tournament, lunch and bingo, and candy jar guessing game.

Seasonal celebrations and employee engagement days include get-togethers with board games, ax-throwing, escape rooms, remote car races, pickleball and cornhole. In 2023, the director of engineering and the regional sales manager smoked meats.

All five-year incremental work anniversaries are recognized by the CEO with gifts provided during quarterly town hall meetings. The longest-tenured KI employee had 49 years of service before retiring in October 2023 and receiving a dream trip to attend a NASCAR race. Employees also receive a personalized birthday card and gift card each year on their birthday.

KI Industries acknowledges all new safety performance records set regarding the number of injury- and accident-free days.

KI Industries made the No. 94 spot in Plastics News' most recent ranking of injection molders, with $90 million in injection molding sales. It has been named a Best Places to Work company every year since 2018.

"Together, we've built more than just a workplace," the company said. "We've created a thriving community where innovation, collaboration and inclusivity prosper."