As Berico celebrates its centennial year in business, the Greensboro-based company is reinforcing its commitment to family-friendly workplace policies through its recent Family Forward NC® Employer Certification. The fourth-generation family business, which provides fuel, HVAC services, propane, and motor lubricants, sees this certification as a natural extension of its existing culture.
“We’re very family-oriented, and we want our employees to feel not just as an employee, but that they’re part of our family,” says Will Berry, president and a fourth-generation leader at Berico. “When an employee joins our team, their entire family joins it. We send a welcome package addressed to the whole family.”
With approximately 115 employees across Greensboro, Eden, and Burlington, Berico has cultivated impressive employee retention rates. More than 20% of the workforce has been a Berico employee for more than 20 years.
While pursuing certification, Berry realized it would be important to point out how Berico provides outside-the-box perks for their employees. He recognized differentiating employee benefits would be important to compete against larger companies in the Triad, especially when it came to paid family leave.
For example, Berico offers a ‘rotational day-off’ program. Employees are assigned specific days when they can choose to take time off, either unpaid or using vacation time, or work if they prefer. It’s turned out to be a business-savvy move.
“We’ve seen unexpected absences dramatically decline,” Berry says. “If an employee is having a rough day, they might look at the calendar and say, ‘Hey, I’m only two days away from my time off, so I’ll be OK and not call in sick the next day.’”
The company’s healthcare benefits are equally progressive. Berico offers three different medical plans, with the company covering 100% of premiums for two plans and 75% for the premium package with the lowest deductible. Dental insurance is covered 100% for all employees, and vision care is available as a supplemental option.
The company’s wellness focus extends beyond insurance. Break rooms have free healthy snacks, fruit, yogurt, and water. Employees can access gym discounts through medical plans, and additional wellness incentives are available for those who get annual physicals.
Whitney Tobatto, Berico’s human resources manager, believes the Family Forward NC® certification will help with recruitment efforts, especially as the region attracts new industries.
“As a parent myself, when I was looking for a new position, it was very important that whatever company I went with was family-friendly,” Tobatto says. “Showing that Berico is family-friendly is going to be nothing but positive.”
Becky Dunnington, vice president of Berico of Eden, has been employed with the company for 38 years. She’s worked through the ranks while raising her daughter, and now, as a caretaker for her mother. She’s appreciated the support and flexible scheduling that Berico provided to help her take care of her family and grow her career.
“So many people move from job to job because they just feel like they’re a number,” Dunnington says. “But not here. We treat employees like family. They’ve included my daughter and husband in all the company functions, from ball games to family nights.”
One of the ways Dunnington shows how much she cares about her 18-member team at the Eden office is by baking homemade cakes and cobblers for everyone’s birthday — from German chocolate to Oreo cookie to cherry cheesecake. For monthly safety meetings, she brings in biscuits or donuts to show employees how much she values their time.
Named an Outstanding Women in Business in 2024 by the Triad Business Journal, Dunnington encourages other business leaders to apply for the certification.
“Being family-first is the best way to retain quality employees and maintain longevity with the ones you already have,” Dunnington says. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to work for a company whose leadership team is so compassionate and caring. They know if they care about us; we’ll care about them.”
Learn more about becoming a Family Forward NC Certified Employer here.
Sample Benefits:
- Medical: Covers 100% of premiums for two plans and 75% for the premium package with the lowest deductible; along with an HSA plan.
- Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA).
- Dental insurance is covered 100% for all employees.
- Supplemental vision insurance.
- ‘Rotational-day off’ scheduling program.
- Mental Health/Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Short-Term Disability and/or Long-Term Disability.
- Paid Sick Leave.