When Fortune magazine released its latest Best Companies to Work For list, we again felt deflated with none of our stalwart local employers making it. We had to look over to Dallas to see, yet again, Container Store, which has made the cut 14 years in a row, and a company called TDIndustries.
Where was Pier 1 Imports, American Airlines or RadioShack?What did catch our attention is that Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy, which had been an active exploiter of the once-hot Barnett Shale play, appears on the list. Chesapeake is looking to sell the former Pier 1 Imports headquarters building on the western edge of downtown as part of a corporatewide effort to reduce debt.How'd they do it?Fortune, which ranked Chesapeake 26th, said: "Depressed natural-gas prices have sped up a downsizing and the sale of assets, but benefits remain generous, including more than $8 million in 'safety bonuses' paid out in 2011 to more than 6,000 employees across the company for following safe work practices."Right behind is another Oklahoma outfit active in North Texas, Devon Energy. "Employees of the oil and gas producer value access to its senior executives," the business magazine said. "President and CEO John Richels calls employees or sends personalized notes to thank them for a job well done and regularly hosts employee luncheons."So what makes Container Store so great? "Hourly salespeople earn an average of $46,925 a year at the storage products chain, roughly double the industry average," it said."Benefits include a 401(k) plan that matches 50 percent up to 4 percent of pay. No wonder turnover for full-timers is a low 5.7 percent."Container Store unfurled a two-story-high banner and threw a champagne-soaked celebration Thursday to mark the distinction.Kip Tindell, its chairman and CEO, said his company's interests extend beyond only profits: "We're thrilled to continue to operate our business in the manner of 'conscious capitalism' -- putting a purpose before profits and never forgetting what got us here in the first place: our devotion to great people and a happy workplace."As for TDIndustries, it said: "Employees own 100 percent of this construction firm and enjoy regular meetings with their bosses, called 'breakfast with the BUMs' [business unit managers]."Is there a bum in your future?New DFW car rentalsTravelers flying into Dallas/Fort Worth Airport can drive around North Texas in style.Silvercar, a new airport rental car company, opened its doors last week, offering only silver 2013 Audi A4s to customers."Our vision is to deliver a consistently better car rental experience, in a consistently better car, each and every time customers rent with Silvercar," said its chief executive officer, Luke Schneider.Customers can book their reservations through their phones, and each vehicle comes with GPS, satellite radio and a toll tag.Bella CafeJanet Z. and Carlo Capua, the family behind the Z's Café, Tuesday opens Bella Café, a sister eatery in partnership with Catholic Charities Fort Worth.Their new cafe is inside Catholic Charities' campus at 249 W. Thornhill Drive in south Fort Worth. The grand opening is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.The Z's and Bella cafes employ low-income men and women, creating second-chance jobs for individuals who cannot find employment. In the past four years, they've created 82 part-time jobs."As an organization whose goal is to end poverty in this community, we couldn't be more pleased to welcome a like-minded partner to not only provide healthy and diverse meals to our community, but also to the hard-working employees who fulfill our mission day in and day out," said Mary Goosens, Catholic Charities' vice president of administration and chief financial officer.Says Carlo Capua, co-owner and general manager: "The need for jobs in our community is astounding. The more skills we can give our employees, the more likely they are to use their job as a steppingstone to bigger things. We've seen dramatic results simply with our small cafe."The new location, open to the public, will operate weekdays for breakfast and lunch featuring daily specials, homemade soups, and gourmet sandwiches and salads. Catering will also be available.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727sabaker@star-telegram.comJim Fuquay, 817-390-7552jfuquay@star-telegram.comBarry Shlachter, 817-390-7718barry@star-telegram.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
