Dealership management system software company Auto/Mate Dealership Systems works to keep employees happy in the current challenging environment for attracting and retaining employees. Auto/Mate employees receive perks such as an onsite gym, tuition reimbursement, casual dress environment, wellness program, employee discount programs and paid time off for volunteering.

The company also hosts events to make the work experience fun for employees, such as Hawaiian Day, happy hours, Bagel Thursdays and visits from cupcake and ice cream trucks.

Because of that work, the Albany Business Review recognized Auto/Mate as one of the 48 Best Places to Work in New York State’s Capital region.

Auto/Mate’s chief people officer David Druzynski says a strong company culture does not happen by accident.

“We focus a lot of our resources into creating an environment where people want to come to work every day,” said Druzynski said in a news release.

He continued, “The effort is worthwhile as we continue to attract highly-qualified job candidates and our employee turnover rate is very low.”

Auto/Mate won the Albany Business Review award for the 10^th straight year. The company is one of 12 honored in the “large companies” category with more than 150 employees.

Auto/Mate president and chief executive officer Mike Esposito said the company won the award in the small-business category in the first few years. But as the company has grown, Esposito said its focus on employee satisfaction has continued.

“If you have happy employees, you have happy customers, so it’s no coincidence that our customer retention rate is 99%,” Esposito said.

Each year, the Albany Business Review honors 48 companies with the “Best Places to Work” distinction. The business journal partners with Nebraska-based research company Quantum Workplace to conduct anonymous employee engagement surveys.