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Computerworld - At American fidelity Assurance Co., it's all about family and flexibility. Not only is American Fidelity a family-owned insurance company -- CEO Bill Cameron is running the Oklahoma City business founded by his grandfather and father -- it treats all its employees, or colleagues, as they're called, like family as well.

"The company is very people-oriented and very family-oriented," says Clendon Rice, director of corporate technology resources, who has been at American Fidelity for 20 years. "In my area, we try to do one or two family events every year so we can get to know the families. We have barbecues, picnics [and] pool parties, and we go bowling."

When the company hires colleagues, it looks for people who fit with its family-oriented culture, according to Jeanette Rice (no relation to Clendon), senior vice president of corporate and human resources.

Why They're Tops • Ranked No. 2 in retention • IT turnover was 7% in 2004 • Ranked No. 3 in career development • 25% of IT workers were promoted last year

Senior systems analyst Kristie Johnson, who has been at American Fidelity for 14 years, praises the company's focus on family as well as its commitment to flexibility. "About five or six years ago, I decided I needed to be home after school with my teenage children. They had the flexibility to allow me to start working part time," she says. "I'm still in a senior analyst position. I manage projects and do all that I'm able to keep up with on a part-time basis. They were willing to work with me, and I think that's just wonderful."

Johnson says the company actually let her take one entire summer off, even though she was required to officially quit. "They held my position open for me; the only thing I lost -- they reinstated all of my benefits -- was one year of seniority," she says.

American Fidelity Assurance staffers: Pat Baksh, CIO John Schille (seated), Clendon Rice and Kristie Johnson Image Credit: Joseph Mills

Jeanette Rice says flexible schedules like Johnson's require a manager's approval. "It's more of department-by-department based on customer need," she says. "We leave it up to managers - if they want to keep a job open and the colleague is a great colleague for us, then, hey, let's go for it."

When systems analyst Pat Baksh arrived in the U.S. from Trinidad and Tobago in 1996, her colleagues helped her family get settled in a new community. They even gave her time off to go apartment hunting, she says.

"One of the things I do enjoy right now is the flexibility that my boss gives me," Baksh says. "That's one of the things I like about working at American Fidelity -- they have a heart, and they're flexible."

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