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O’FALLON, Mo. — In the mornings, employees say, the chief executive and chief operating officer make the rounds.

They circulate through the office, greeting staff by name and cracking jokes. Employees say it’s a sign of the good company culture at Flat World Global Solutions, a logistics firm in O’Fallon.

The company has been named a 51���� 2024 Top Workplace, based on employee surveys.

“It’s playful, fun — but also, when we need to get the job done, we get the job done,” said Emily Porter, an accounting specialist.

Founded in 2006, Flat World has a headquarters in O’Fallon, three warehouse locations and about 180 employees worldwide. The founders drew their inspiration for the name from the Thomas Friedman book on globalization, “The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.” A copy is kept on a table at the headquarters, near the front door.

What’s the key to the culture at Flat World?

“I think it’s all about the CEO leadership,” said CEO Brian Wenck. He added: “I’m kidding.”

But there may be something to it.

Wenck said he has a philosophy of paying careful attention to clients’ problems and figuring out solutions — rather than jumping in and trying to sell them on something.

“That type of culture and that type of attitude put us in a really great spot during the pandemic, and led to a ton of our growth,” Wenck said. “Then the next thing you know, we were chartering some of the largest aircraft in the world, flying them all around the world with different products. For the first time in our life, we chartered a ship, and we shipped in a ton of goods from eastern Europe.”

“It’s not about what we’re trying to sell people, it’s about solving their issues.”

Staff also said they find meaning in the company’s philanthropic efforts. Flat World works with several charities, including the Joshua Chamberlain Society, which supports veterans and their families.

Departments take turns heading up fundraising efforts, and staff take pride in coming up with creative ways to raise money for the cause. Veterans who benefit from the donations visit the office, so employees get to hear the good that has come from their efforts.

At the office on a recent morning, there were signs advertising an upcoming wing-eating competition staged by the accounting department. During the “wing-off,” four volunteers would eat progressively spicier wings in the style of the online interview show “Hot Ones.”

Their coworkers would bet on who wins, who bows out first, and who’s the first to break a sweat. The proceeds would go to charity.

The company also holds a “customer service week” each year, to celebrate its employees. There are activities planned each day (this year Wenck and his chief operating officer donned aprons and made waffles for the staff). There is a group outing at the end of the week, which in the past has included bowling, Top Golf and laser tag.

Employees said the company is quick to promote from within: Jaleigh Irish said she started working the front desk about six months ago, and was given opportunities to shadow each department. Soon she was promoted to the role of project coordinator.

Candie Rogalski, HR and payroll specialist, said that has been the case for many of the front desk staff, during her time at the company.

“Hard work does not go unnoticed,” Rogalski said.