ABOUT
From the Company
ϳԹ editors excerpted this information from the Employer Questionnaire submitted to the Best Companies Group.We are committed to becoming the world’s most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally responsible products for a healthy home. Products include: non-chlorine bleached, 100-percent recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products, etc.
COMPANY CULTURE
For 20 years, the closely held Burlington, Vermont-based company has been at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behavior and business ethics. As part of this standard, we consider our company as a place for people to seek not only material growth, but spiritual growth as well. We work to create a corporate culture in which people are energized and fulfilled as members of an intentional community. One of the country’s first self-declared “socially responsible” companies, Seventh Generation is a business that operates according to a new and different set of principles and values that in many ways are a marked departure from those long considered “traditional.” Its business practice is focused on offering people avenues to express their idealism, passion, and commitment to causes larger than themselves at every point along its supply chain.
OFFICE FACILITES
Our offices are on the shores of Lake Champlain and provide immediate access to beautiful parks and the Burlington Bike Path. In 2009, we built out a green roof deck with wireless for employees to work outside when the Vermont weather permits.
FLEXIBLE HOURS
We encourage employees to flex schedules as needed. This encourages the same benefits of summer hours, year round.
FITNESS BENEFITS
Our fitness reimbursement program is designed to encourage our employees to lead a more active life. We want to empower employees to invest in themselves. We reimburse for up to $600 in fitness-related expenses each year. This reimbursement is for anything that employees feel will keep them physically fit. Some examples are: gym memberships, ski passes, snowboarding or cross-country ski equipment, and running sneakers. We also provide a corporate membership to a nearby fitness center for employees to use.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Each full-time SVG employee is offered 16 hours of paid time off per year to volunteer in the community. We also sponsor 2-4 employees to take part in national/international volunteer efforts offered by kindred companies. In addition to our volunteer program, we dedicate ten percent of our profits to non-profit community, environmental, health, and responsible business organizations working for positive change. We have four donation partnerships: Children’s Literacy Foundation, Committee On Temporary Shelter, Whole Planet Foundation, and Youthbuild.
GREEN INTIATVES
Seventh Generation is also committed to supporting their employees in their efforts to reduce their individual impact on the environment by providing them with the following benefits: Energy Efficiency Reimbursement for up to $500 each year for expenses associated with improving the energy efficiency of their home; public and alternative transportation reimbursement for $50; a Carbon Reduction Program that offers employees the opportunity to receive up to three forgivable loans to support the cost of making carbon emission improvements in their lives (each loan is for a maximum of $5,000).
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Some of our more informal practices include frequent public recognition during community gatherings, giving gift cards as Thank Yous for extra effort or a project well done. Also, on-site, ten-minute chair massages are offered to all employees once a week.