Happy place

Sriven Technologies LLC’s leader has a clear stance on the value of satisfied workers.

“If all the employees are happy, everything is in a good place,” says Raj Kilaru, CEO of the Ashburn-based IT services company that works with retail, financial, insurance and health care clients. The company didn’t have any resignations in 2020 after Sriven switched to an entirely remote workforce and company social outings were replaced with Zoom get-togethers. The workforce has remained largely remote to mitigate health concerns, but the company has continued to ask employees to share their ideas and opinions. 

“We always feel that our employees are a dynamic and essential part of the team,” Kilaru says. When treated that way, “they are more productive and willing to go the extra mile to deliver our clients’ needs.” 

Sriven’s 15 days of regular vacation leave can be accrued and traded for pay or donated to another employee in need. After their first year, employees can take unlimited paid time off as long as they’re getting their jobs done. The company also offers some soft-touch perks, such as backup child or elder care if an employee’s regular caregiver is suddenly unavailable. Yoga and meditation sessions are available to bring down stress levels and promote wellness. 

The company had hoped to gather employees for a holiday party in December 2021, but decided against it when the omicron variant became a concern. Instead, “we sent gifts to all of the employees,” Kilaru says. “We are looking forward to seeing them again face to face.” 

Sriven was named to Inc.’s Best Workplaces national list in 2018 and 2021. This year marks its second consecutive year as the top-ranked small company on Virginia Business’ Best Places to Work list. The recognition on both state and national platforms is the result of purposeful planning around ways to keep employees happy, Kilaru says.

“At Sriven Tech, we respect and listen to our employees … always giving them the motivational push they need to stay loyal and committed to our goals,” Kilaru says. “We, and our team, help each other in all situations.” 

Sriven employs 95 people nationally, with about 25 in Virginia. The firm has grown steadily since its founding in 2009, offering strong benefits packages to help recruit and keep talented workers, Kilaru says. Company-paid health insurance for employees and dependents, as well as employee life insurance, is offered from Day One. After three years of service, employees are eligible for a 401(k) plan, retirement benefits and a profit-sharing plan through stock options. 

Telecommuting is a regular option, even outside of the pandemic. About 40% of Sriven employees telecommuted before the pandemic forced the company to go remote. Flexible scheduling also is the norm, and workers can set their own hours or compress the workweek. Employees also receive paid time off for community service and volunteer work. Sriven pays for career development
training and has a mentoring program. 

Kilaru says Sriven has been employee- focused since its inception. As it has grown, management has reviewed its programs and updated as necessary to keep employees satisfied. While most workers had what they needed to work remotely when everyone left the office in 2020, the company makes it a point to check in with employees. “We try to respond to anything they need,” Kilaru says, especially since the company elected to stay remote into 2022. 

Even without the office walls providing a collective home for the application development and consulting work that Sriven provides, Kilaru wants employees to feel connected.  

Read more about this year’s survey.