Oak Ridge engineering firm Paschal Solutions is expanding amid a boom in nuclear development, with employees helping clients navigate things like federal nuclear requirements, design engineering, project management and technical writing.
Though they may have different duties, Paschal Solutions employees share one key aim: delivering results for clients across the U.S. and here at home, including Centrus Energy and the Y-12 National Security Complex.
Paschal Solutions offers employees the opportunity to solve difficult, interesting problems and rewards them for their work, helping the company earn the highest Top Workplaces honors in the small company for the second consecutive year.
For CEO Lane Paschal, leadership is not about keeping constant
tabs on employees,
"I don't need to count the number of minutes you sit in a chair," he told Knox News. "I need the job done."
If the best person for a job needs to work from home on occasion − or most of the time − they can be accommodated.
"We have to have the best employees in the world," Paschal said. "And the only way you get the best people is if you make a culture that puts them first."
Paschal founded his company in 2000, something he described as the equivalent of a placing a hinge on a door. Without a hinge, he said, a door won't open.
Paschal Solutions has helped companies navigate complex nuclear licensing processes and safety regulations for the past 26 years and it employs close to 80 people − many with technical backgrounds. The volume of work to do at the company (and the number of employees hired to do it) is increasing, Paschal said, amid rising interest in nuclear energy.
Paschal, an engineer, took notice after earning his degree of a pay imbalance that still concerns him. CEOs would receive generous compensation, he said, but that generosity wasn't dispersed throughout organizations.
Engineers pushing companies forward weren't benefitting.
"The people need to share in what their efforts are," he said. "Our employees are very generous with us, with what they bring to the table."
The company's emphasis on finding the right ways to show appreciation for employees' work stretches from its pays scale to its retirement plans. Paschal Solutions has a Simplified Employee Pension plan and maxes out its contributions, Chief Operating Officer Tracey Henson told Knox News.
"I know my financial advisor couldn't believe it," she said.
But some people at the company who could retire, Paschal said, are choosing to stay because of their investment in the work.
Employees want to play a role in a positive outcome, he said, and they know Paschal shares their commitment to solutions.
What Paschal Solutions employees said about their workplace
Knox News' partner Energage conducts an anonymous survey to determine top workplaces based on employee feedback. Below are some Paschal Solutions employee responses to the prompt, "I love my job because."
- "Paschal Solutions has allowed me to achieve the work-life balance I need while also still providing me with meaningful and challenging work. The company and management have made quantifiable efforts to keep employees engaged, happy and productive. The company culture is about quality people and about taking care of each other, which makes delivering as a team member much easier and more satisfying."
- "The people around me inspire me to go beyond what I thought was possible. When presented with a challenge, it is enjoyable to conquer it. The team fully supports everyone and focuses on success. Every day, I work with people that represent the best in our industry. Being around such great people really energizes me. It makes work feel more invigorating. Due to this, we accomplish more and have more successes. And winning is a lot of fun. It makes working way more enjoyable. This team accomplishes so much. Beyond that, the people care for each other in ways that are beyond a family atmosphere."
- "I get to do meaningful, technically challenging work alongside people I respect and trust. The mission matters, quality is taken seriously, and I’m given the autonomy to do my job well without unnecessary bureaucracy. My contributions are valued, and I know the work we do has real impact."
About Paschal Solutions
- Consecutive years on Top Workplaces list: Second year
- Year founded: 2000
- Number of local offices: One
- Local address: 710 South Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge
- Number of employees: 35 in Oak Ridge; 77 in total
Mariah Franklin reports on technology and energy for Knox News. Email: mariah.franklin@knoxnews.com. Signal: mariahfranklin.01
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Paschal Solutions earns timely Top Workplaces win amid nuclear surge
