Unitil 6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton • Unitil.com
Chairman and CEO: Thomas Meissner
Years in Business: 42
Full-time Employees: 615 (444 in NH)
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 with family members working there, 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. It trains 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.
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 of service, and a retirement award where retiring employees receive a cash bonus in the last paycheck for every year they worked at Unitil.
Unitil is committed to fostering a sense of belonging. It hosts quarterly staff appreciation events, supports four 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 feedback 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.
