Deschutes Brewery, Hydro Flask among ‘Best Places to Work’

Bend’s Deschutes Brewery and Hydro Flask were named Thursday to Outside Magazine’s sixth annual “Best Places to Work” list.

The brewery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and Hydro Flask were included in the list of the 100 best companies to work for in the nation.

The full list of the top- performing small, medium, and large companies will be published online Thursday at OutsideOnline.com/bestplacestowork.

Erin Rankin, executive assistant and donation coordinator for the brewery, said, “I consider myself extremely lucky to work for a company that produces such amazing quality craft beer, cultivates a healthy work-life balance, and opens up to all employees not only financial information but the strategic plans as well. I am proud to be a part of this company and its family!”

As part of the ranking process, Deschutes Brewery employees completed confidential employee-satisfaction surveys to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives and community outreach programs. Employer questionnaires about the same topics were also included in the program. The experts at the Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.

Gary Fish, founder and CEO of the brewery, said, “We founded Deschutes Brewery in one of the best places on earth to live – Bend, Oregon. For the last 25 years, we’ve operated on a premise of being able to enjoy a work-life balance for all employees while also creating a great product and giving back to the community. Our continued success can be attributed in great part to the dedication and pride our employees take in their work. Receiving recognition like this is exciting for everyone at the company.”

Earlier this year, Deschutes Brewery implemented a new Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) which enables employees to share financially in the company’s continued success. The brewery’s growth and accomplishments can be attributed in great part to the dedication and pride the company’s employees take in their work. Providing partial ownership to employees through the ESOP was the perfect way to help the brewery celebrate its silver anniversary this year and instill an even more significant commitment – at every level – to the brewery’s future adventures.

Deschutes Brewery dedicates $1 per barrel sold annually to charities throughout the community to help fulfill its goal of helping to build a healthier society. Giving ranges from environmental causes that are near and dear to the brewery’s Oregon roots, all the way to assisting kids in need through local service organizations. With 2012 production at 250,000+ barrels, community support will exceed a quarter of a million dollars in 2013.

“We’re proud to publicize the efforts of these 100 companies,” said Outside editor Christopher Keyes. “They each show a real commitment to creating active, healthy work environments and put a premium on innovative benefits. Year after year, Outside’s Best Places to Work program demonstrates that America’s most successful companies are the ones that consistently promote true work-life balance for their employees.”

Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States.

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Hydro Flask today was named to Outside Magazine’s sixth annual “Best Places to Work” list. The company, which is celebrating its 4th anniversary this year, was ranked 27th of 100 selected companies. The full list of the top- performing small, medium, and large companies will be published online today at OutsideOnline.com/bestplacestowork. The list of winning companies is also included in the August issue of the magazine.

“We’re proud to publicize the efforts of these 100 companies,” said Outside editor Christopher Keyes. “They each show a real commitment to creating active, healthy work environments and put a premium on innovative benefits. Year after year, Outside’s Best Places to Work program demonstrates that America’s most successful companies are the ones that consistently promote true work-life balance for their employees.”

As part of the ranking process, Hydro Flask employees completed confidential employee-satisfaction surveys to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives and community outreach programs. Employer questionnaires about the same topics were also included in the program. The experts at the Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.

“Since our company’s inception four years ago in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask has embodied a work hard, play hard attitude in a unique mountain town setting where we have the opportunity to test out all of our products right in our own backyard,” said Scott Allan, CEO of Hydro Flask. “Our employees feel great about the mission of the company and the products that they stand behind, and our success can be attributed to their passion and dedication. We are all honored to receive this recognition.”

In addition to the comfortable, open work environment, Hydro Flask offers a generous benefits package and paid time off, profit sharing program for employees, paid time off for individual volunteer work and company-wide outings for volunteering. The company also offers tuition reimbursement and involvement in Commute Options, which rewards employees for biking, carpooling, telecommuting or walking to work. In addition, Hydro Flask hosts Friday lunches for all employees, and organized outings during lunch and after work, such as trail running and mountain biking.

Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States.