This is the third blog post in a series marking the 10 Year Anniversary of the founding of LYNC Logistics, a Chattanooga-based, female-owned, freight brokerage. We’re taking a look back at LYNC’s origin stories, the evolution of the company, the unique office culture, and what the future holds for LYNC so stay tuned for more of the story. If you missed our first post, check it out here. If you missed our first post, check it out here.
Creating a Culture that Works
When you walk into the LYNC Logistics office, you’ll most likely be greeted by a labradoodle and a golden retriever, Joe and Evie, the Chief Happiness Officers. You’ll see dog toys scattered on the floor, nerf guns resting on desks, and a glass-encased rec room with a ping-pong table, basketball arcade game, Big Buck Hunter, a couch and some comfy chairs, and a play section for children.
It’s easy to think that LYNC simply caved to the trendy pressure of creating a “fun environment” for the employees it calls “family.” But after 10 minutes in the office, it’s clear that LYNC leadership really does treat its employees like kin. “Our biggest thing in the company is culture and personal responsibility, so they’re given free reign to do their job with a few parameters to hold them accountable. How and when they reach those goals is their determination,” Cindy says while explaining that her employees use the ping-pong table more than anything else in the rec room—they’ll hang out and play as the day is winding down. “It sparks conversation and gets them to talk to each other outside of work things,” she says.
Cindy says that treating her employees like humans and like true members of her family is how she maintains such a positive workplace with a fiercely loyal group. Her goal is always to make her brokers’ jobs easier, whether that’s through innovative technology, hiring more people, or helping you pay for a flight to a family funeral. “I believe that their outside lives are just as important as their business lives,” Cindy said while gushing about her employees.
LYNC employees are big fans of karaoke and they love to celebrate the holidays by renting a machine and rocking out all night long.
Even our Executive Vice President Rob Bade loves to get in on the nerf gun action!
Bring Your Kids to Work…any day.
When Cindy and Less’s oldest daughter Taylor moved to Chattanooga to work at the dealership, she had trouble finding available daycare. Waitlists were so long that despite getting on lists before even moving, there were no options available by the time she started working. “So, she brought [her son] to the office every day and he just kind of lived in my office with me,” Cindy shared.
As a mother of three, Cindy knew that childcare was always an obstacle for working families, so she never had any problem with employees bringing in their kids for a day if they needed. But once COVID hit, Cindy knew the issue was deeper. “It was so clear that mothers had to not only do their jobs, but they were also responsible for education. They had to stay home with the children and rearrange so much of their lives or even leave the workforce. As a mother, your biggest roadblock is childcare,” she explained. “In today’s world they cancel school if there’s a storm and there are teacher in-service days; they let out school for a variety of reasons and as a parent with a school-aged child, they can’t afford to take off for all of those days.”
“Our theory is, ‘why not
bring them in?'”
On average, there are 8 major holidays that companies will give as paid holidays. Within the school year, there can be up to 40+ days of closed school.
“Our theory is, ‘why not bring them in?’,” Cindy says. “The kids are no problem when they come in. Usually there’s 4 or 5 on the days that school is out or cancelled and they play amongst themselves, they’re all friends.”
There’s even occasionally a baby or a toddler that requires a bit more attention but none of the employees mind, they love to take turns taking a break from work to hang out with the babies. “It’s an environment where everyone pulls together.”
Chief Happiness Officers
Dogs ended up in the office for a similar reason—doggy daycare is expensive. “There’s three permanent dogs, Joe, Evie, and Gordie, and then everyone else brings their own dogs in when they want to,” Cindy told me. She explained how the dogs almost seem to have a sense of who is having a bad day, and they’ll gravitate towards that person for the day, begging for treats and offering love. “We have two small dogs that have been coming in recently and it’s funny, you look up and all the guys are always picking them up. Whenever things get tense or they need a break from something, there’s a dog in their arms.”