Best Places spotlight: Paychex invests in, encourages tech innovation

A focus on technology innovation keeps IT pros challenged and engaged.

Paychex has been on Computerworld's Best Places to Work in IT list for a decade. But that doesn't mean Mike Gioja has lost his drive to build a great workplace for the company's approximately 1,150 tech employees.

Gioja, CIO and senior vice president of IT, says he focuses on investing in and encouraging technology innovation so IT staffers can be challenged and excited by their work. And he tasks managers with fostering a collaborative culture where people feel supported and successes are celebrated.

The Rochester, N.Y.-based payroll accounting firm provides tuition reimbursement, ongoing company-funded training and promotion opportunities. And it cultivates a sense of community by sponsoring events like family movie nights.

David Hergert, a senior platform integration engineer who joined Paychex 14 months ago, says the company has developed a reputation in engineering circles as the place to be.

"Everything is being looked at with a new perspective. We're asking, 'Can we do things better? Are there new technologies we can use, new processes we can use?'" Hergert says. "Everyone's kind of embracing it and excited by the change."

Paychex
Members of the new Paychex mobility team include (front) Joe Kuperberg and Ron Rider, and (rear) Nevada Ott, Kevin Ricotta and KP Smith. (Credit: Paychex)

Next: Spotlight: At AMC Theaters, the No. 51 large organization, IT employees appreciate cutting-edge tech and free movie tickets.

Copyright © 2014 IDG Communications, Inc.

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