Small companies, ranked No. 25
What makes your business a top employer? Our vision is to create a work environment where employees develop personally and professionally, have fun, develop advocate clients and create profit for the company. LCE is a strengths-based organization focused on turning individual talents into strengths and in turn, channeling those strengths into organizational performance that supports our clients’ success. Our policies and practices are focused on employee success and work-life balance, and we have embraced the increasing role of teleworking in this equation. We like to have fun, which in turn creates a positive atmosphere for innovation and creativity for our employees. All of this coupled with our values of honesty, integrity and mutual respect in everything we do fosters a supportive, team-oriented work environment. We pride ourselves on the family feeling in our organization. Everyone from the CEO to the receptionist knows you by name and are there to celebrate life’s achievements and support you through somber moments.
How do you measure employee satisfaction? LCE conducts annual employee surveys based on the Gallup Path.
What strategies do you have for retaining employees? Internal mobility, employee recognition, flexible work schedules, telework options and wellness initiatives. The employee stock ownership plan, completely funded by the company, offers a secondary retirement savings.
What do you do to develop employees and help them grow? LCE offers an education reimbursement program. Employees can take advantage of full reimbursement for seminars and certifications and/or up to $7,500 per year towards degree reimbursement. Employee resource groups build community, provide support and contribute to the personal and professional development of its members. Our initial Veterans Employee Resource Group has been a big success and we are working on implementing additional groups to represent the interests of our employees. LCE offers mentoring, job shadowing/cross training, attendance at leadership workshops or other formal leadership education, and support of leadership roles within volunteer organizations outside of our company.
Are you hiring? Yes. We offer an employee referral bonus and recruit in diversity websites, universities, niches, blogs and advertisement media. We advertise in all state unemployment agencies. We actively participate/contribute with local United Way agencies to help connect local job seekers with openings. We maintain strategic partnerships with recruiting firms and we have invested in an artificial intelligence sourcing tool, Rolebot, which guarantees a more diverse pool of candidates.
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About the company
Life Cycle Engineering, Inc. has been serving clients since 1976 — helping them accomplish their goals and improve performance in a reliable, cost-effective way. Over the last 44 years, we have worked with hundreds of private companies and government programs. That adds up to a lot of problems solved.
Address: 5301 Robin Hood Road, Suite 108, Norfolk
Phone: 757-857-1311
Website: LCE.com
Top executives: Bob Fei, CEO; Peter Thomas, vice president; Larry Tate, director
Employees: 60
Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, long- and short-term disability, EAP, 401(k), ESOP, life insurance, HSA, FSA, telehealth, critical illness and accident, personal insurance solutions
Fun factor: Social events/gatherings, annual Steak Out (management grills steaks for the entire team), potlucks, holiday parties, picnics
Community service: Annual United Way drive and Stuff the Bus
