Best Workplaces: No Place I'd Rather Work...

Training is critical in the Courier Corp. chain, with employees averaging 122 hours apiece during the past 12 months (its human resources department tracks all training). As a result, 77 percent of its employees are cross-trained in multiple job functions, according to Diana Sawyer, vice president of human resources. To that end, the printer has taken great strides to provide its employee base with the best technology available.

"The company has made significant capital investments in equipment and technology," Sawyer notes. "Our employees are working in clean manufacturing environments and using state-of-the-art equipment and processes that can't be found in manufacturing operations in other industries."

Continued education relevant to work is encouraged by Courier. The company offers tuition assistance for college-based programs that are work-related, with reimbursement up to $900 per course.

Each of Courier's plants has a safety committee that meets on a regular basis, and a safety roundtable meets monthly to track injuries, ergonomic initiatives and other issues. This committee can implement equipment upgrades/modifications and process change across all plants. On the health end, Courier boasts an active wellness program, including a summer walking initiative, flu shots and weight loss programs.

Courier's Kendallville, IN, facility (which employs 600+ workers) participates in the Adopt-A-Highway program and sponsors a "trash bash" twice a year to clean up its two-mile stretch of Route 6.

The printer's service award program reveals some interesting figures. Its average length of service is 11 years, and 11 percent of the base has 25-plus years on the job (two workers hit the half-century mark in 2014). Average service length of its managers across all plants is 19 years. Plant managers have an average of 22 years each.

Courier recognizes those "good catch" actions by employees with newsletter highlights. The "Citizen of Courier" award, handed out to two or three employees each year, is presented to workers who exceed expectations, show team unity and are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty with a positive, can-do attitude.