Best Companies to Work For: National Precast Concrete Association

The results are in, and National Precast Concrete Association is the winner of the TINYpulse Recognition Award in the Construction & Facilities Services industry.

You're probably wondering how we came to this conclusion ...

Over 500 companies around the world use TINYpulse's peer-recognition platform called Cheers for Peers.

We separated the companies into 14 different industries then compared which company sent the most Cheers within their organization over the course of the past six months.

About National Precast Concrete Association

National Precast Concrete Association represents manufacturers and suppliers of plant-produced precast concrete products. We're incredibly impressed with their dedication to employee engagement and being proactive about feedback. We applaud NPCA Staff’s commitment to upholding the following core values: integrity, advancement, service, collaboration, and communication.

We got a chance to speak with the team to go behind the scenes of the organization and find out what makes National Precast Concrete Association one of the best places to work.

Q: How has peer recognition helped boost morale at your workplace?

A: Congratulating a coworker for a job well done is a great way of showing how important collaboration is at NPCA. Several staff members have noted just how much they enjoy receiving a Cheers for Peers, something which seems to generate even more excitement about passing praise along to others.

Additionally, having a system like TINYpulse available to send recognition is great because it allows each staff member to really think about how peers have assisted them each time a survey is sent. And because the Cheers for Peers are archived, an employee can easily go back and view all of the praise they’ve received in the past.

Q: What was the happiest moment at work?

A: About a year ago, we chose to expand and improve our membership database system. Despite being functional, the system had troubled many staff members for some time, making the upgrade to the new database necessary. To commemorate the demise of the old database and the eventual arrival of the new one, Phoenix, staff gathered to vent all of their frustrations in what was logically the best and most satisfying manner — beating a pig piñata with a stick.

The pig represented the old database. Destroying the pig meant freedom from all of the hardship it had brought upon staff members over the years. To make the process even more symbolic, staff members wrote the issues they had with the old database on the sticks they used to bash the piñata. Everyone enjoyed the event greatly, and they got the opportunity to look forward to a more productive and efficient database.

In true “rise from the ashes” fashion, Phoenix emerged from the rubble of the old system, bringing joy to all when it was released earlier this month.

Q: What kind of fun activities does your company participate in?

A: Over the past few years, NPCA has participated in several events which have helped build camaraderie among staff members and contribute to the community.

In 2014, staff members engaged in a food drive with Gleaners Food Bank with the goal of collecting 500 food items over the course of a few weeks. When the collection ended, staff had gathered 3,385 items for donation, well surpassing the original goal.

Also in 2014, staff members wore pedometers in an effort to cover the total distance it would take to walk from our office location in Indianapolis to the site of our annual convention in Montreal. Teams of four or five competed to determine who would “arrive” at Montreal first. The contest allowed staff to be more conscious about their overall health as teams worked together toward the goal.

During the 2015 holiday season, NPCA volunteered to sponsor a family with The Julian Center, a group whose goal is to support victims of domestic violence and other life crises. Staff members purchased many gifts for a family of three, including clothes, winter apparel, and a variety of toys for the family’s two children.

When we are not working to support the community, we also like to just have fun! Some of the events we’ve organized in recent years include a dog party for staff members with canine companions, a trip to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s “Symphony on the Prairie” event, and an annual chili cook-off, among others.

Q: What is the one thing that every company can do to make their employees happier?

Q: If you could describe your work culture in three words, what would they be?

A: Collaboration. Service. Support.

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