2025 Great Workplaces in Minnesota
Minnesota is known for its vibrant business community and talented workforce, making it an exceptional place to live and work. Great Workplaces in Minnesota honors some of the state’s most outstanding employers—organizations where employees are engaged and eager to contribute.
Great Workplaces in Minnesota is a collaborative effort between Best Companies Group, the Minnesota Society of Human Resource Management, and Twin Cities Business. It is open to all publicly and privately held for-profit, nonprofit, and government entities. To be eligible, companies must have at least 15 employees in Minnesota, an in-state facility, and been in business for at least one year.
To determine the Great Workplaces in Minnesota list, Best Companies Group conducted a thorough assessment of each company to gather detailed information about the workplace. Employers completed an in-depth questionnaire and their employees could submit honest feedback in a companywide survey. Only the organizations with the highest percentage of positive responses across various workplace issues could be recognized as one of the best in the state. The recognition is 100% based on real data and feedback.
Best Companies Group then analyzed the data to rank each company. Each organization could purchase an Employee Feedback Report with benchmarking reports and their employees’ survey responses, allowing them to compare their organization to the others on the list.
Great Workplaces in Minnesota is divided into two categories: small employers with 15 to 49 Minnesota employees, and medium/large employers with 50 or more Minnesota employees.
The companies presented in the following pages are exemplary, setting a standard others can follow. For more information on Great Workplaces in Minnesota, visit bestcompaniesgroup.com/great-workplaces-in-minnesota.
Small Employer
#1: Lakeside HR Group
Kristin Nordling founded Lakeside HR Group, her boutique human resources recruiting and consulting firm, in 2021. In four years, Lakeside has grown into a nimble, results-driven company with 16 HR experts committed to empowering their business clients. The company attributes its rapid success to a team that both works hard and has fun.
Lakeside’s employees thrive in a vibrant, supportive work environment. Regular team lunches foster connection, and “bring your mug Monday,” when employees can share stories from their weekend and goals for the week ahead, is a favorite office tradition. An employee-led book club brings together colleagues over shared interests, and the group recently enjoyed a boat cruise as a team-building activity. The office fridge is stocked with drinks and snacks for all, and employees frequently receive Lakeside swag, like Stanley cups, backpacks, and beach towels. Lakeside also rallies to support local causes, such as by sponsoring the Cross Services golf tournament fundraiser and packing food for Second Harvest Heartland.
Lakeside also has a professional employer organization (PEO) arrangement with Houston-based HR giant Insperity, which allows it to retain the tight-knit, collaborative culture of a small company while offering employees the benefits of a large corporation. Full-time employees can choose a health insurance plan that best fits their needs, and their premiums for health, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance are covered in full. Other benefits for Lakeside employees include flexible hours, paid parental leave, incentive programs, an employer-sponsored employee assistance program (EAP), financial education seminars, fitness programs, and access to valuable networking and community opportunities.
About Lakeside HR Group
Top local executive: Kristin Nordling, president and founder
Established: 2021
Number of Minnesota employees: 16
#2: Davis
Davis is a Minneapolis-based health care brokerage and consulting company that prioritizes the well-being of its employees, their families, and the broader community. It fosters a collaborative, supportive environment where employees feel valued and appreciated. Davis offers an impressive array of benefits to both part- and full-time employees, including flexible work schedules, 100% employer-paid insurance premiums, and free underground parking. It also offers a 4% match on its robust 401(k) plan, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, workplace fitness facilities, monthly catered lunches, commuter benefits, and more.
#3: ActiFi
Headquartered in St. Louis Park, ActiFi touts its people-centric culture and commitment to employee well-being. At the core of its values is a strong focus on work-life balance, so it offers flexible schedules, remote-work options, and unlimited PTO after one year. ActiFi also takes care of its employees by covering 100% of medical, dental, life insurance, and short-term disability premiums for full-time staff, in addition to offering an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The company recognizes and rewards hard work with competitive salaries, performance-based bonuses, and abundant opportunities for career advancement. To foster team spirit, it hosts company lunches every Friday.
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#4: Minnesota Credit Union Network
Minnesota Credit Union Network, the state trade association for credit unions headquartered in St. Paul, fosters a collaborative and growth-oriented work culture within a flexible environment. Dedicated to supporting not only its employees but also their families, it covers 100% of medical, dental, and life insurance premiums for employees and their dependents. Employees also benefit from parental leave, as well as flexible hours to accommodate personal and family events. What’s more, the association encourages employee feedback and involvement in decision making.
#5: 24 Seven Talent
24 Seven is a talent recruitment agency known for its exceptional workplace culture and commitment to employees. It places a strong emphasis on professional development, offering team members ample opportunities for growth and advancement. To create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, the agency recognizes and celebrates holidays from various cultures, plans multicultural awareness activities, and provides ongoing diversity training. To encourage work-life balance, meetings and staff-only events are limited to work hours. “Summer Fridays” let employees make the most of summer weekends.
#6: RIE Coatings
RIE Coatings is an industry leader in the development of coating solutions for a wide variety of applications. The Eden Valley-based company is dedicated to fostering an exceptional work environment where employees are a top priority. RIE encourages a healthy work-life balance by promoting boundaries—employees are urged to avoid checking emails and answering calls outside business hours, cannot work during vacations, and are required to take PTO. The company shows appreciation for its employees through quarterly gain-sharing bonuses, internal excellence awards, and company luncheons.
#7: Supply Chain Solutions
Supply Chain Solutions, a logistics management company with offices in Coon Rapids, prides itself on a workplace where hard work and fun go hand in hand. The company has a break room with a dartboard and video games, provides lunch every Thursday, and regularly hosts happy hours, cookouts, and holiday parties. To further recognize and reward team members, Supply Chain Solutions offers achievement awards, incentive programs, education opportunities, and tickets to local entertainment and sporting events. The company’s vibrant culture ensures employees feel both motivated and appreciated.
#8: Bridging
Bloomington nonprofit Bridging provides quality furniture and household goods to people pursuing housing stability. Staff are reminded daily of their impact. Bridging offers competitive benefits, regular staff meetings, an annual staff appreciation week, and listening sessions with leadership. To foster a diverse workforce, the organization has removed barriers in job descriptions and shares openings with organizations focused on finding diverse and veteran candidates. To build camaraderie among its fully remote staff, Bridging hosts quarterly potlucks and barbecues, March Madness bracket competitions, and cookie exchanges.
#9: St. Paul Federal Credit Union
St. Paul Federal Credit Union fosters a familial atmosphere where everyone is valued, supported, and recognized. The full-service financial institution covers 100% of health, dental, and vision insurance premiums for all full- and part-time employees and their dependents. Employees enjoy flexible hours, can trade PTO for pay, and are encouraged to take additional PTO for community service or volunteer work. The credit union also hosts regular staff lunches and treat days, and employees have access to a Minnesota Twins suite for 10 games a year.
Medium/Large Employer
#1: Mahoney CPAs and Advisors
Mahoney CPAs and Advisors is a full-service CPA firm in St. Paul that offers professional services like accounting, tax planning, and consulting to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits. At Mahoney, the commitment to delivering exceptional value to clients is matched only by the firm’s dedication to nurturing the growth and success of its own people.
Mahoney recognizes that the growth and success of each individual employee directly contributes to the prosperity of the broader firm. This philosophy drives its commitment to a flexible and employee-centered workplace. It also prides itself on finding ways to advance the educational, personal, and professional goals of its employees; it offers bonus rewards, tuition reimbursements, and a coaching program that includes tailored professional-development plans.
Other ways Mahoney shows appreciation for its employees include flexible work hours, charitable match programs, a generous technology allowance, a special recognition dinner for staff who’ve recently received their CPA license, an employee recognition day with breakfast served by firm leadership as well as gift cards, spot bonuses, and fun activities, summer Fridays, and regular happy hours and social events. During the busy tax season, it provides weekly happy hours, snacks and catered lunches, premade meals for employees to enjoy at home, and a tax day party.
Mahoney also understands that diversity strengthens its culture and drives innovation. It partners with organizations to attract candidates of diverse backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and abilities. The firm has a diversity and inclusion committee, sponsors scholarships for minority students going into the accounting field, and supports the Minnesota Society of CPAs mentor program to help promote the accounting profession to minority high school students.
At the core of Mahoney’s success are its values: being curious, embracing change, fostering teamwork, inspiring trust, and taking initiative. These guiding principles help foster a culture of strength, positivity, and excellence, ensuring that Mahoney continues to thrive as an industry leader.
About Mahoney CPAs and Advisors
Top local executive: Thomas Johnson, CEO
Established: 1989
Number of Minnesota employees: 79
#2: MAS HVAC
MAS HVAC is a Maple Grove-based HVAC manufacturer that goes above and beyond in its care for its employees. It offers unlimited PTO after one year and encourages each employee to take at least four weeks off per year to recharge. The office is designed with employee comfort in mind, with amenities that include a massage therapist, gym, game room, popcorn machine, and cold brew and nitro coffee on tap. MAS provides comprehensive benefits, like complete coverage of health, vision, dental, and life insurance premiums for full- and part-time employees, as well as bonus incentive programs and continuing education opportunities. Employees and their families also enjoy tickets to Minnesota Twins, Wild, and Vikings games.
#3: Reach for Resources
Minnetonka-based nonprofit Reach for Resources provides support and training for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The organization cultivates a work environment for employees where open communication and creativity are celebrated, allowing team members to take initiative and grow in their roles. Employees enjoy a range of benefits, including a hybrid work environment, accessible technology, free health resources, professional development opportunities, awards programs, and wellness initiatives.
#4: Award Staffing
Award Staffing, based in Edina, is a local industrial staffing agency serving the greater Twin Cities area through five offices. The company believes that work should be more than just a paycheck—it should provide a sense of purpose, stability, and fulfillment. Award Staffing prioritizes employee well-being and fosters an inclusive culture where everyone is valued and supported. Among many benefits offered to its diverse team are paid sabbaticals, on-site fitness facilities, an employee assistance program (EAP), referral bonuses, extra PTO for volunteer work, and career development opportunities.
#5: Global Tax Network
Maple Grove-based Global Tax Network (GTN) is a global tax services firm specializing in tax issues for mobile employees. The firm is proud to offer employees flexible schedules, competitive benefits, and ample growth opportunities, both internally and externally. Employees benefit from internal lunch-and-learns, two weeks of annual technical training, 12 paid holidays, 25 PTO days after one year of employment, flexible and reduced work schedules, summer hours, health and fitness membership reimbursements, and paid parental leave. Interested employees can also transfer to work in other areas of the firm.
#6: Ideal Credit Union
Ideal Credit Union is a nonprofit, member-owned financial cooperative based in Woodbury and the oldest credit union in the state. It partners with the local job network to attract a diverse pool of candidates from varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds, veterans and military personnel, and individuals with varying abilities. Ideal Credit Union celebrates employee success through awards and incentive programs, including a President’s Club for employees who exceed 125% of their annual goals. Its employee resource groups organize volunteer opportunities at a local shelter, so that employees can bond while giving back to the community.
#7: Horizon Commercial Pools
Horizon Commercial Pools is an Arden Hills-based company that specializes in commercial and public swimming pools. Guided by its core values—deeply committed, humbly authentic, and driven forward—Horizon Commercial Pools has crafted a positive and supportive work environment that prioritizes the safety and well-being of its employees. It covers 100% of dental, vision, care, disability, and life insurance premiums for all full-time employees and their dependents. Employees who refer a new hire receive a bonus, and Horizon actively recruits employees of varying backgrounds and abilities.
#8: EisnerAmper
EisnerAmper, one of the largest accounting, tax, and business advisory firms in the U.S., offers a dynamic workplace with ample leadership development opportunities. The firm’s employee well-being program consists of five pillars: physical, financial, emotional, social, and environmental. Each pillar provides opportunities for employees to improve their overall well-being while earning incentives. EisnerAmper’s recruitment process involves reaching out to diverse networks, using inclusive language in job descriptions, and ensuring its selection process is fair and unbiased. The Minneapolis office keeps staff engaged with activities like bingo and happy hours.
#9: Hansen & Co. Woodworks
St. Joseph-based Hansen & Co. Woodworks Inc. is a high-tech manufacturer of custom, large-volume, built-to-order cabinets, architectural millworks, and more. The company views its team members as the cornerstone of its success. It offers them a four-day workweek and flexible schedules. To foster camaraderie and recognize contributions, Hansen & Co. hosts team-building events and holiday parties and offers incentive and awards programs.
Event photos by Katie Crumley