Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric is again a Denver Post Top Workplace in the Small Company category. This is the eighth time Applewood has been recognized as a Top Workplace, which is based on employee surveys.

“We care about our employees and the environment they come to work in every day, so we like to ensure that they feel valued. Our employees are the backbone of the company and without them we wouldn’t be successful,” said Josh Ward, owner of Applewood.

While many companies have been forced to lay off workers during the pandemic crisis, Applewood has continued to see high demand for service across the entire Denver, Boulder and Longmont areas. 

“We’ve been able to keep our entire staff working through the COVID-19 crisis and we have enough calls that we still need more Colorado licensed plumbers,” said Ward.

The Top Workplaces employee survey consists of seven categories: alignment, effectiveness, connection, management, employee engagement, leadership and the basics. To make the list, employees must feel appreciated in all areas of the business and feel confident in where the company is headed.

With 93 percent of employees responding to the survey, words like professional, ethical, honest, caring, happy, positive, professional and integrity rose to the top of descriptors used by employees surveyed from across all levels and positions in the company. 

"The fact that our employees always do what’s best for the customer is a big reason why we received this award again,” said John Murphy, a master plumber at Applewood.

Applewood has more than 300,000 customers, 60 percent of which are repeat customers. Along with care for their customers, Ward and the Applewood family are a philanthropic company that gives back to the community. The company has operated Applewood House, a temporary home for families dealing with long-term hospital stays, for a decade. It has also given almost $200,000 to small, local nonprofits through its Caring Community Giveaway and is a partner with Dumb Friends League. 

“The ‘dogs of Applewood’ has been a lot of fun for our technicians to share photos of the many furry friends they meet during their repairs,” Murphy said. “We have partnered with Cosmos, a local pet bakery, to be sure our trucks are equipped with enough snacks.”

The company also invests in its employees through a wellness program, ongoing training and top benefit packages. Several social activities throughout the year add to the family-like atmosphere and culture at the company.

“I’m proud to work for a company that cares so much about its employees but also about the community that surrounds them which is why I think they continue to achieve this ranking. I’m happy to be part of such an ethical, community-focused business,” Murphy said.