Mature worker award: Medic One Ambulance Service.

Providing employees an environment that allows them to develop their passion and knowledge base in order to give the best medical care possible is the goal at Medic One Ambulance Service, said Ryan Kibler, president. The Jonesboro-based company serves northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri with its 10 bases.

"Our employees find themselves in stressful situations and put themselves in harm's way much like a police officer or fireman. Sometimes this stress can place a burden on employees' family life," Kibler said. To help employees create balance, the company offers flexible schedules. Ninety percent of employees work two days on then two days off seven out of 14 to every 14 days, creating a three-day weekend twice a month.

While workers are on the job, their families are encouraged to visit the Medic One bases for family time. "This is not a nine-to-five job," Kibler said. "Our employees spend 24/7 away from their families while they're on shift. ... It makes me proud to see a morn or dad helping their child with their math homework or sharing a meal and the day's events with their spouse when they visit one of our bases."

In addition to traditional benefits such as health and dental coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k), Medic One offers continuing education programs led by an on-site education director.

Parents can also bring their infants to work and set up a crib in their private office to care for the baby after their 10 weeks of leave. And this benefit was extended to grandparents as well in 2007.

The company values its mature workers for their mentoring and leadership skills. Kibler singled out the shop department supervisor as one example. "The supervisor is a 60-year-old man who has a lifetime of knowledge and experience. He brings this experience to the shop staff, guides them in expanding their knowledge while helping them make major decisions to keep our equipment ready at a moment's notice."

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Medic One is constantly recruiting in order to grow because there is a limited number of EMS professionals in the state right now, Kibler said. And he's finding out that workers want benefits and policies to help them balance work and life. "What we find is that not all employees are money-driven. Many of them bring new ideas to us."