Top workplaces, small: 5. Ameripark

One way a company becomes a top workplace in Las Vegas is by retaining employees instead of losing them to other firms.

That’s one of the goals of Georgia-based AmeriPark, which provides valet services at the Forums Shops at Caesars and the Las Vegas Premium Outlets North. It came in fifth in the 2014 rankings in the small-company category.

“We try to have as small a turnover as possible,” says Jay Manyik, manager of the Las Vegas operations for AmeriPark, which has 1,300 employees nationally.

One way to make the job attractive to employees is by being flexible with scheduling, Manyik says. If someone wants to go on a European vacation for a month or take other time off, he says he’s open to doing that.

“I don’t want this place to be a roadblock,” Manyik says. “We have understanding on flexibility because we have some people who go to school.”

AmeriPark has more than 50 employees in Las Vegas with nearly all of them at the Forum Shops, a shopping center owned by Simon Property Group that contracts with AmeriPark.

Valet parkers receive minimum wage and rely on tips for the remainder of their income. Only management is considered full time, but insurance is offered to part-time employees.

“My goal is to make my people as happy as possible where they want to come to work,” Manyik says. “We have had people leave here before and try out different valet companies, and a lot of them come back. The group that works here is like a family. We know each other well, and if they have someone to recommend for a job, I’m open to take a look. A lot of people have friends, and we give them a chance. We get a lot of great people off that.”

Manyik says ex-employees who move out of town come back to work during the holidays when they’re visiting families.

Manyik says the job is not as easy as some may think.

Weather can make it difficult and sometimes customers are upset when they drop off or pick up their vehicle, and can unleash on employees.

“I think you have to put yourself in the employees’ shoes and look at it from their perspective,” Manyik says. “I think as bosses we have to keep in mind our employees’ happiness. There are problems that come up in life and you have to understand and work around it.”

Joe Horten, a valet for seven years, says he’s never worked at a job where turnover has been so low. The flexible schedule and ability to trade days with co-workers makes it convenient, he says.

“Once people start here they generally don’t want to leave,” Horten says. “It’s a good environment. It’s fun and like a team. We have had people leave who take other jobs and come back and say how nice it is here. You never dread coming into work. You know someone has your back when things are tough.”