What is it about Genetec that wins it top-employer awards?

Genetec, a developer of open-platform, hardware and cloud-based services for the physical security and public safety industries, based in Montreal, hosted a Press Summit this week. I was supposed to be there. But no! A snowstorm on Sunday prevented me from making my flight out.

I was disappointed. I was interested in learning and reporting about what Genetec has going on for 2015 in advance of its reveals at ISC West. I also was looking forward to finding out more about the corporate culture of the company, which was founded in 1997.

Corporate culture is worth knowing about. Just ask John Loud of LOUD Security, who spoke about it at Honeywell's Connect2014 event.

Brian Katz of Google, keynoter at our recent TechSec conference, discussed that progressive company's culture of security.

Attitudes all add up in making companies more successful.

When I visited Genetec's HQ last year I was impressed with the atmosphere there, from the popular, low-cost gourmet food in its company cafeteria to its on-site gym. Then there's the foosball- and X-box-equipped meeting areas. Employees trying to untangle snags in projects are encouraged to work them out over a game or two. (My teenage son has often told me that video games help him think, too, when he's stuck on a homework project. Now I just might believe him.)

It's not only about good food and fun and games for Gentec's 620 employees, though. Those perks, along with generous vacation time and benefits and company-sponsored outings, are designed to promote a work environment that fosters “a strong culture of innovation, which is essential to the growth and future of [the] business,” the company says.

Genetec this year was named one of the top employees in Montreal for the ninth consecutive year by MediaCorp Canada. The contest evaluates employers on criteria that includes physical workspace, work atmosphere and social, health, financial and family benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and skills development and community involvement.

The award isn't just about good external public relations, the company told me when I inquired. In addition to prompting more visitors to the Genetec website and boosting job applications and greater, favorable awareness about the company overall, it has made current employees proud to work at the company and, Genetec says, employee retention will grow because of it.

I'll be writing more about Genetec's corporate culture, so stay tuned!