Optimax recognized as Winning Workplace

Ontario, NY-- Optics maker, Optimax Systems, Inc. has made the list of the 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces. The 20 winners of the competition--the best small and mid-sized places to work in the country--was announced by Inc. magazine and Winning Workplaces in Inc.'s June issue. The magazine features the 20 winners, which range from the New York Jets professional football team to A Yard and a Half landscaping company to Patagonia, the outdoor clothing designer and retailer. The review of Optimax given by Inc. magazine said, "A lean manufacturer, the firm emphasizes continuous improvement, documenting and tracking standardized processes, and empowering its 131 employees to make decisions with minimal supervision. As a result several cost cutting measures have been implemented and rework has substantially reduced. Leadership's investment in the workforce paid off as the firm is enjoying its highest bookings in the history of the company."The common characteristics of the Top Small Company Workplaces include a commitment to aligning their workforce with a clear vision, mission, and values; communicating with openness and trust; and investing in employees' continuous learning and development. These practices were maintained or strengthened as a means to weather the recession. Further, many winners chose to share the pain rather than lay off colleagues. Salary reductions were taken across the organization, starting with the CEO. "Receiving recognition in Inc magazine for being one of the best small companies to work for in the USA was very much unexpected," said Optimax CEO Rick Plympton. "Our primary objective was to participate and learn more about programs that would enhance our lifelong learning culture where we focus on continuous improvement, value creation and customer satisfaction. Optimax sets high expectations for personal growth and accountability and we have one of the most generous reward systems in the industry."Winning Workplaces and Inc. reportedly received nearly 500 completed applications for the contest. A national panel of experts in leadership and small to mid-sized business judged the finalists based on specific metrics and qualitative assessments of their success in creating the kind of workplaces that engage employees and deliver successful results."This year's winners show that the quality of the workplace can be a competitive advantage. I'm amazed at how well they have come through the recession. Clearly, their commitment to their values and people practices are an important part of this success," said Gaye van den Hombergh, President of Winning Workplaces."People want employers who care for and challenge them. And they want those employers to be financially healthy so they can keep caring for and challenging them far into the future. The 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces do just that. Their stories, in the June issue of Inc. magazine, are models of smart management and enlightened leadership," said Jane Berentson, Editor-in-Chief of Inc. magazine.This is the eighth consecutive year that Winning Workplaces, an Evanston, IL-based nonprofit organization, has recognized those firms that attribute much of their business success to their commitment to exemplary people practices and outstanding workplace cultures. To read the 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces report, visit www.inc.com.Posted by Steve Andersonwww.laserfocusworld.com