15. Unitil • 6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton • unitil.com
Top Employee Engagement Survey Measures: My manager is interested in my well being: 94% agree. I know what my organization is trying to achieve strategically: 93% agree
Chairman and CEO: Thomas Meissner
Years in Business: 40
Full-time Employees: 575 (422 in NH)
Years on List: 4
Unitil’s RISE values—Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, and Excellence—form the core of its operations and internal culture. With a voluntary turnover rate of just 3% and an average employee tenure of more than 12 years, it’s clear those values are more than words. The company has multiple employees who have family members working there as well, and even some with over 40 years of service—all clear signs of a workplace where people want to stay.
What sets Unitil apart is its all-hands-on-deck approach to emergencies—training accountants to assist with storm logistics and engineers to direct traffic at staging sites. At the same time, the company balances this mission-driven intensity with flexible work options, a $250 home-office stipend, and wellness initiatives like walking groups, a butterfly garden, and a $200 bonus for completing healthy activities such as participating in yoga classes or having an annual physical.
Honoring employees is a big part of Unitil’s mission. The company’s bonus program ranges from 5% to 45% of an employee’s salary. Unitil also honors employees through its Exceptional Employee Award (nominated by managers and comes with a bonus), a peer-to-peer recognition program, a cash bonus every five years to recognize length of service, and even a retirement award where retiring employees receive a cash bonus in the last paycheck for every year they worked at Unitil.
Unitil’s committed to fostering a sense of belonging. It hosts quarterly staff appreciation events, supports three employee resource groups, and engages employees in company strategy through in-person updates. “Feedback is a gift,” says Director of Human Resources Tracy Paterson, explaining it was feedback that led Unitil to open a training facility that provides hands on experience and a virtual reality safety simulator for field employees to test and hone critical skills in a risk-free environment.
