When Daimler Financial Services committed itself to becoming a "number one” employer, our leadership wanted to do something truly revolutionary that would transform the company culture and working experience. What they did was not just one thing, but rather, they initiated a true change in mind-set that now guides every decision made at Daimler Financial Services.

Ask any member of the DFS family. “Great place to work” is a phrase that has become part of the everyday language at our company. This is a testament to the efforts that have gone into making this organization a supportive work environment for our employees.

Our efforts hinge on the fundamental principles of having an open and honest working environment. From the open layout of our workspaces to the informal breakfast sessions with the company president, the sentiment of approachability and accessibility is felt throughout the entire organization.

In some respects, we foster the spirit of the three Musketeers, our success is not individual it’s collective. Take for example our Day X project, when DFS employees were faced with a daunting task of creating an entirely new IT infrastructure – a project consultants estimated to be a multi-million dollar effort that would drag out for at least two to three years.

With un-matched employee dedication, DFS employees from all different departments and locations rallied together and were able to wrap this mission up in eight months at a fraction of the original estimates. Day X not only represented a record-breaking IT milestone, but it further defined the strength of our culture. By believing and empowering our employees to make decisions, work together and solve problems, we encourage them to achieve new goals.

To keep momentum high, we offer a variety of professional development opportunities to expand skills. We hold frequent lunch and learn sessions that cover a range of topics from new technology implementation to savvy business tools. Additionally, we have a mentoring program where senior level employees provide guidance and assistance in how to develop your career.

Employee Resource Groups are another representation of the supportive culture at DFS. With a focus on maintaining an inclusive culture, these groups produce cultural awareness celebrations, employee appreciation barbeques and the DFS Idol Rock Band Tournament, among other exciting programs open to the entire employee population.

In addition to our commitment to our internal DFS community, our culture supports giving back to our external community. Social responsibility is written in our core values and it’s rare to walk the halls of DFS without seeing our hearing about our community activities. Every DFS team participates in at least one volunteer project annually. We have renovated community centers, built playgrounds at schools, worked with children on their reading, planted gardens and built homes for people in need. Also, each DFS employee is given a paid-day off to volunteer at a nonprofit organization of his/her choice.

Another way we motivate employees is through our benefits package. We offer flexible work schedules, top notch medical benefits, competitive salary offers and an attractive vehicle leasing program for employees.

From the first day an individual joins our family we explain to them that our internal company slogan, “This is your company” is not just a catch phrase, but it’s a true statement. It is the spirit of ownership and a day-to-day demonstration of our Core Values that sets Daimler Financial Services apart from the rest.