Hometown Glory

Dallas has 5 of the best U.S. workplaces for millennials

The Dallas area claims five of the best workplaces for millennials, according to Fortune.

Courtesy photo

Five Dallas-area companies are on a new list of best workplaces for millennials, compiled by Fortune magazine and the Great Place to Work Institute. The overall best in Dallas? Chili's Grill and Bar, which ranks No. 11 out of 100.

Millennials comprise 74 percent of the workforce at the restaurant company, which Fortune describes as "a flexible workplace that loves to recognize employees for their achievements and milestones."

Ryan, a tax services firm, lands at No. 22 for a company culture "in which employees are treated as entrepreneurs." At No. 37 is Arlington-based nonprofit Texas Health Resources, where perks include fitness centers, a robust 401(k) match, awards for "actions that reflect the company standards," and cheap healthcare.

Encompass Home Health and Hospice comes in at No. 55. It's an unusual company on the list in that the majority of its employees don't work together; they work in patients' homes. "Work-life balance is encouraged," writes Fortune, "with 30 days of paid time off each year and flexible scheduling options."

Plano's Alliance Data, where millennials make up 41 percent of the workforce, ranks No. 67. In addition to flexible schedules, ability to work from home, and generous 401(k) match and stock options, employees enjoy onsite services such as fitness centers, yoga classes, car washes, haircuts and massage therapists.

Texas isn't short on millennial-friendly companies. In total, 13 make the list. Houston has four, including David Weekley Homes (builders of these), which scored the No. 2 spot. Austin has two, CWS Apartment Homes (No. 64) and Cirrus Logic (No. 87). San Antonio has two; NuStar Energy, ranked No. 32, represents the best workplace in the city for young professionals.

The inaugural report surveyed more than 90,000 employees and asked participants to rate their employers' practices. No fewer than 50 employees were surveyed from each of the 465 participating companies; the list only considered responses from employees under age 35.

Other companies on the list include Google (No. 25), Twitter (No. 31) and Yelp (No. 41). No. 1 is Power Home Remodeling in Chester, Pennsylvania.

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Coworking News

New coworking space to open in Dallas' Oak Lawn neighborhood

Office Evolution

A coworking space is opening in Dallas in a central location: Office Evolution, a Louisville-based coworking chain, will open what a release says is a "state-of-the-art coworking space" at 3500 Oak Lawn Ave. #360 in Dallas at the southeast corner of Lemmon Avenue.

No details on what makes it state-of-the-art, but construction is ongoing and an opening is anticipated in mid-October.

Office Evolution was founded in 2003 as a shared workspace-coworking environment, cultivated on the principles of "Ohana," the Hawaiian tradition that references family working toward a common goal. (The founder was from Hawaii.)

The company started out in Boulder, Colorado, then relocated its headquarters to Louisville. It's an affiliated brand of United Franchise Group, and is part of The Vast Coworking Group, which specializes in franchising within the coworking industry. All of their locations are franchised.

The Dallas location is owned by franchisee Michael Pickering, a Dallas native who runs a family-owned indoor soccer facility in Dallas. (There are two other Office Evolution locations in the DFW area in McKinney and Southlake, owned by different franchisees.)

They're describing the Dallas location at 3500 Oak Lawn Ave. as "Turtle Creek," although its location at Oak Lawn and Lemmon really puts it at the epicenter of Oak Lawn. (To further complicate matters, the building previously and incorrectly described its address as "Uptown.")

It's a seven-story building in which the majority of tenants are doctor and medical offices.

Office Evolution rates include a coworking day pass for $25, plus "flex" office options starting at $200 a month for 20 hours, up to $550 a month for 80 hours.

Amenities of the building that are also accessible to Office Evolution customers include a front desk; a 1,000-square-foot fitness center; covered parking; and on-site security six days a week.

According to a spokesperson, Pickering and his team put $1.2 million into the renovation to transform the space, which occupies most of the fourth floor where it will span 9,240 square feet of space with 41 total offices — one of which is earmarked as an "on-demand office" for the professional on the go.

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