- November 29, 2024
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‘Bring Your Child to Work Day’ cited as example of innovations.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
Security First Insurance, founded 10 years ago by former state senator Locke Burt, of Ormond Beach, has become the state’s third largest homeowners insurance company and was recently recognized by Florida Trend magazine in their annual Best Companies to Work For competition.
The company, headquartered at 140 S. Atlantic Ave., was ranked highest among all Florida homeowners insurance companies and seventh among all mid-sized companies. Midsize companies have 100 to 250 employees.
Each year, Florida Trend lists 100 companies throughout Florida that exhibit workplace excellence. The magazine ranks companies that enter the competition by reviewing anonymous surveys filled out by employees on topics such as workplace environment, company policies, benefits, leadership, corporate culture and communications.
Marissa Buckley, vice president of marketing, said in an email that the company recently had a “Bring Your Child to Work Day.”
“This was an idea that came from one of our call center employees,” she said. “My five-year-old was so excited to learn what I do all day and I feel so good knowing that each day when I am not with her, she can visualize where I am and what I’m doing. Several employees had this same feedback and shared their gratitude on our company intranet.”
Human Resources Director Frank Molinario described the Bring your Child to Work day as a blast.
“It was not as productive as we hoped,” he said with a laugh.
He said tours and a lunch were arranged, plus there was an ice cream truck. The children had a lot of good questions and his own kids pretended to interview each other in his office, he said.
“It was worth the logistics we put into it,” he said.
In October, they are planning a family skate night.
Security First Insurance offers an employee wellness program, birthdays off with pay and tuition reimbursement to full-time employees.
Molinario said employees meet with Burt and company executives at leadership luncheons where they have candid discussions. He said management has received a lot of ideas in the meetings.
“We have an open door policy,” he said. “We really want their feedback.”
They have communication workshops to help all employees communicate better, which is something needed at most companies.
In a written statement, President and Chairman Burt, who was state senator from 1991 to 2002, said the company will continue creating a work environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and growth, and where employees feel like they are part of the family.
The company has about 130 employees and provides insurance to more than 200,000 customers state-wide.
