CBS 8 Zevely Zone visits A.O. Reed’s Gym and Meditation Chamber

A.O. Reed was in the news! We were showcased on CBS 8’s Zevely Zone, where a segment featured our employee well-being, company culture, and office amenities. A.O. Reed got to showcase our state-of-the-art gym and meditation chamber and its long-term effects on our employees.

Prioritizing employee well-being is a top-down approach at the company. A.O. Reed’s leadership incorporates practices to avoid burnout, boost a work-life balance, and provide value to our team. We emphasize working hard during dedicated hours at the company, resting afterward, enjoying time with friends and family, and participating in hobbies. This work-life balance allows team members to arrive refreshed and ready to prioritize their job and customers’ experiences.  We are one of the largest union supporters for plumbing, pipe fitting, and sheet metal trades in Southern California. The unions provide health benefits for our labor force.  A.O. Reed provides health benefits for our office staff and their families.

Construction is inherently a dangerous career; in response, we invest in top safety programs to ensure our employees are given the education to succeed. Safety is our top priority. We have built a safety program focused on preventing accidents through proper planning and education. A.O. Reed has a dedicated safety panel that monitors our safety to ensure it is current and effective for our employees.

On campus, A.O. Reed constructed a gym for employees to use before work, during lunch breaks, and after work. We provide weightlifting machines, cardio equipment, free drinks, complimentary towels, showers, and bathrooms. The gym is open to all employees 24 hours a day. The company invests in the employees’ physical well-being. Physical health will boost employees’ productivity, ability to focus, problem-solving skills, and endurance throughout the workday.

Transitioning from physical to mental health, A.O. Reed provides a Star Wars-themed meditation chamber to enter a “Galaxy Far, Far Away.”  The company provides this space for employees to recharge and prepare for their next task. This carefully crafted space has a tree at the center, a sky with a shooting star every five minutes, a stretching area with laminate floors, a luminescent light wall, and napping pods. The space centered around meditation also provides stretching areas. Stretching is a good habit to do after working at the jobsite to mitigate muscle pulls and relieve tension, which, in turn, avoids injuries.

Overall, this segment with CBS 8’s Zevely Zone allowed us to open our doors and showcase the working environment at A.O. Reed. We have perfected our practices and protocols for over 110 years, so we know how to attract and retain the best employees. As a result, our general foremen and foremen average 20 years working at the company. In addition, we employ multigenerational team members. It’s not unusual to see two—or three-generation employees working alongside each other at the jobsite or office. The A.O. Reed company culture is a unique aspect that allows us to be the best mechanical contractor in Southern California.