#44 Sonoma Partners
For Gen Yers, personal space is particularly important. Whether that's space to check their email or space to move in an in-office yoga class, having room to breathe contributes greatly to productivity. The founders of consulting company Sonoma Partners take great care in making sure every employee has a space they call their own.
"Coming straight out of college and into a company that spoils me with my own office and casual dress is great," says developer Blake Scarlavai, who adds that the office outfits them with the latest technologies to get their jobs done, including high end smart phones. More importantly, however, he says that the work excites him and his colleagues. "I get to work on a variety of projects instead of getting stuck on one project for months and months," Scarlavai says. "We have very interesting clients and cool projects."
To Co-Owner Mike Snyder, keeping his Generation Y staff stimulated and engaged is second nature. "Sonoma is a place where everyone is motivated and wants to do a good job. In our business, we are only people and brains," Snyder says. "Our work environment needs to be fun and stimulating, because Gen Yers can easily leave and take their knowledge to another company."
Snyder doesn't take employee retention lightly. "Our number one concern is making sure our culture is attractive to Generation Y," he says. "As long as you are getting your work done, we don't care when or where you're doing it." The system is working: to date, the only Generation Y employee to leave the company came back after three months.
Part of the appeal is the healthy work/life balance offered at the firm. "Sonoma doesn't want anyone working more than 45 hours per week," says Rich Anderson, a Business Analyst who has been with the company a little under a year. "I have never felt burnt out and I've never had to work ridiculous amounts of hours that I hear my friends talking about. Sonoma understands that we have lives outside of the office and they cater to this."
