United supply: supplying a family environment.

• Author: Louiseize, Kelly
• Position: BEST PLACES TO WORK IN NORTHERN ONTARIO - Company overview

There is something to be said for family-run medium-sized companies when the CEO, presidents and owners can share in conversation with a warehouse employee over a cup of morning coffee.

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It happens, and more often than not with The United Supply Group of Companies says Sharon Michaud, general manager of United Supply division, one of the five offshoots of the parent company.

Family is family and Sharon grew up with an extended one that includes every employee in the business. It was the kind of philosophy her father Ross Woodward believes in.

The open door policy means that when an employee encounters personal strife, they want to help them through it.

"We work very very close with them, we embrace employees," she said.

Michaud is not a clock watcher, nor do employees feel her breathing down their neck. If a worker requires personal time off, she knows that he or she will make it up during the month somehow.

A little leniency goes a long way. It provides for a more relaxed yet effective and productive environment, she said.

"We really work on the honour system."

Vacation time is the standard two weeks off up until five years, and then extends to three weeks. The company ensures short-and long-term health insurance, dental care and health care visitations to chiropractors, massage therapists, and podiatrists to name just a few.

United Supply is a different world than their sister business, The Bucket Shop/Steel Tech, and the dress, code varies depending on the division.

"We are two different worlds put together," she said.

While United Supply's dress code maintains a casual business attire, the Bucket Shop requires steel-toed boots and perhaps some overalls.

Regular monthly meetings keeps workers and management on track. Each quarter, management meets to brainstorm and work out logistical bugs, or how to make operations run more smoothly. Suggestions from employees are brought up at these meetings.

As the owner said, "if the company is not in a constant state of flux, it is going...