What does Richmond’s TemperPack have in common with hot early-stage companies like Zoom Video Communications, Allbirds and Duolingo?
The four startups were all included on Forbes’ 2021 list of America’s Best Startup Employers, a 500-company ranking that was released in March.
TemperPack, a materials engineering and manufacturing company with 300 employees, came in at No. 406 on the Forbes list.
“We’re really proud of the culture that we’ve built and the people that we have,” said Brian Powers, TemperPack co-founder and chief executive officer. “The most important thing in being a good employer is getting the right people, and I think we’ve done a really good job in getting the right people who care about others.”
This is the second year Forbes published its list. Forbes worked with Statista, a market research firm, to evaluate 2,500 American companies founded between 2011 and 2018 with at least 50 employees. The companies were evaluated on employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth.
In the article, Forbes noted that, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, startups have had to find creative ways to attract and retain employees, with many introducing virtual alternatives to the work culture perks startups often offer.
That was true for TemperPack. The company introduced Zoom happy hours to make up for some of the social activities that became challenging or impossible due to the pandemic, Powers said.
By being transparent, open and treating employees like “thought partners,” TemperPack attracted employees who “share our excitement to start something new,” Powers said.
The company is considered essential because it manufactures sustainable packaging that is used to transport perishable medical supplies and food. This designation has allowed employees continued to work in person during the pandemic. Over the past year, Powers said, he saw people “rally around the mission.”
Although TemperPack’s location in Richmond has helped attract talent, he said, it’s still challenging to hire people for manufacturing and logistics right now. The Forbes recognition helps.
“I think this is a really good stamp that we are going to offer a great environment, even though we’re not a large company that’s been doing this forever,” he said.
In addition to TemperPack, West Creek Financial, a retail financing provider located in Glen Allen, in nearby Henrico County, also made the Forbes ranking, coming in at No. 464.
