The five finalists for Workplace of the Year at the GeekWire Awards rely on a number of policies to help employees get the most out of their work experience, from flexible hybrid policies, regular team meetings, parental paid leave and more.
This year’s finalists are Adaptive Biotechnologies, Blink, Helion, Impinj and Treasury4. We asked each company how they have kept their teams functioning during the challenging times of the past year, and their answers are below.
The 2022 Workplace of the Year winner was Edifecs, a Bellevue, Wash.-based healthcare software company.
The GeekWire Awards recognize the top innovators and companies in Pacific Northwest technology. Finalists in this category and others were selected based on community nominations, along with input from GeekWire Awards judges. Community voting across all categories will continue until May 1, combined with feedback from judges to determine the winner in each category.
We’ll announce the winners on May 18 at the GeekWire Awards, presented by Astound Business Solutions. There are a limited number of table sponsorships available to attend the event. Contact our events team at events@geekwire.com for more information.
Submit your votes below and keep scrolling for more on each finalist for Workplace of the Year, presented by JLL.
Create your own user feedback survey
Adaptive Biotechnologies
What they do: The company develops technology to assess the immune response.
Navigating the past year: In 2022, Adaptive implemented a new “modern workplace” to help employees experience a post-pandemic environment. A new hybrid work policy allows staff flexibility on when they need to be onsite and allows for better work-life balance. Technology and onsite improvements have been made throughout Adaptive’s buildings to support the change in work habits. A new culture committee was formed to develop programming to connect Adapters — to each other, to the company mission, and to their personal sense of purpose — through learning and social events.
Blink
What they do: User experience and design firm that creates digital products, brands and experiences.
Navigating the past year: Blink has a number of practices in place to improve the employee experience. Open and transparent communication: At the start of every week, all employees attend an all-company staff meeting over Zoom, to discuss company health and financials; share inspiring examples of work; welcome new employees; and more. Prioritize employee well-being: Employees are encouraged to take care of their mental health and physical well-being and put family and health needs first. Training and development: Managers use a software application called Grow Tool to provide objectively defined skill sets that outline the path to raises and promotions.
Helion
What they do: A fusion energy company.
Navigating the past year: The last year has been full of change at Helion as the company moved its HQ from Redmond to Everett, Wash., doubled its team from 70 to 140, and began building a new fusion machine. Five core values serve as the company foundation: Get things done, Build stuff that works, Be extraordinary, Have courage, and Character. Multi-faceted team initiatives have been implemented, including: weekly engineering milestone meetings; growing the production team more than 200%; publishing a weekly team newsletter; holding quarterly internal town halls; developing new parental leave and paid time off policies.
- Related story: As interest in fusion energy ignites, Helion lands $500M from OpenAI CEO, Facebook co-founder
Impinj
What they do: Impinj’s RFID technology is used by retailers to track inventory, verify shipments, and more.
Navigating the past year: Impinj is guided by principles centered around respect, collaboration, accountability, empowerment and thinking big. Over the past year, the company has deepened its DEI efforts, refined its hybrid work culture, sharpened its focus on sustainability, and maintained high productivity. Example activities included: completing an annual DEI plan; continuing a Summer of Diversity series; introducing monthly Culture Connections sessions to strengthen cross-company relationships and trust; establishing Impinj Cares and 16 hours of paid time off annually for employee volunteering.
- Related story: Impinj shares soar 11% after RFID maker tops expectations for Q4 with $36.4M in revenue
Treasury4
What they do: Spokane, Wash.-based data analytics startup.
Navigating the past year: The company brings teams together in person every quarter to ensure alignment on important work, learn from guest speakers, and share time together. Treasury4 utilizes a hybrid work model with flexible hours and unlimited PTO to cultivate work-life balance. Other perks include paid parental leave; a “shout out system” to encourage praising co-workers; celebration of birthdays, work anniversaries, and special life events to create space for fun and levity; and lunches to allow for relationship building outside of current projects and teams.
- Related story: Job openings surge in Spokane as remote work attracts more techies to Eastern Washington
Thanks to gold-level and category sponsors: Wilson Sonsini, JLL, Blink, BECU, Baird, Fuel Talent, RSM, Talent Reach, WTIA, Meridian Capital, Bank of America, and T-Mobile. And thanks to silver level sponsors: First Tech, Remitly, Fuel Talent, and SolluCIO Partners.
If interested in sponsoring a category or purchasing a table sponsorship for the event, contact us at events@geekwire.com.
