Best Places to Work: No. 13 Bales Metal Surface Solutions

Throughout the year, Bales employees are recognized on their anniversaries with lunches and on their birthdays with cards. For Thanksgiving, team members are given gift cards to grocery stores.

Some companies just have one day to appreciate their employees, but Bales Metal Surface Solutions in Downers Grove, Ill., has its own employee appreciation week. The celebration includes breakfasts and lunches, gifts, prizes, trivia games, mini spa services, scavenger hunts and comedians.

Throughout the year, Bales employees are recognized on their anniversaries with lunches and on their birthdays with cards. For Thanksgiving, team members are given gift cards to grocery stores.

"We invest in our most valuable resource: our employees. We are constantly implementing ways to recognize, reward and inspire our workforce," Bales said in its Best Places to Work questionnaire.

Bales Bucks are awarded to employees that surpass the expectations of their jobs. These can be redeemed for prizes.

Food such as pizza, doughnuts and other treats; summer parties and barbecues; holiday parties and decorations; and flexible paid time off are other employee benefits.

Bales workers can enroll in the company health care plan on the first day of employment.

"We work hard to make sure our team feels like their role at Bales is more than a job — it is a career and company they can be proud of," the company said. "Based on the nature of the work we do, our employees are true craftsmen and women, and many have spent their entire careers perfecting their skills to best serve our customers and the mold making industry."