Working with and supporting victims of domestic abuse on a daily basis can be emotionally draining for employees at Laura’s House.
The Ladera Ranch-based nonprofit for domestic abuse victims and their children offer a number of services such as emergency shelter, counseling, legal services, and transitional housing.
As such, Laura’s House Chief Executive and Executive Director Margaret Bayston said the organization makes a point to support its employees.
“We’ve got to be kind and sensitive to our pain and other’s pain,” Bayston said. “Client information is confidential so you can’t always say, ‘Oh, this particular client’s story is terrible.’ I think it’s really being able to guide each other and be there as support for each other.”
That support network, and a corporate mission that employees wholeheartedly buy into, has paid off.
The nonprofit ranked No. 24 in the midsize company category—those with 50 to 249 employees—on the Business Journal’s 11th annual Best Places to Work list.
It was one of only two nonprofit organizations to appear on the list, in addition to Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce.
The list was compiled for the Business Journal by Harrisburg, Pa.-based Best Companies Group, an independent workplace researcher that managed the registration process, conducted surveys, evaluated data and selected companies for the list based on overall scores from queries of management and employees.
Expansion Plan
Laura’s House has 59 employees in Orange County—counting part-time and relief staff the number would be more than 100. Another 500 serve as volunteers.
Bayston, who is marking 21 years at the nonprofit this year, said her team has been together for a long time and, like herself, enjoy work that has “meaning and a sense of it being important rather than just a job.”
In addition to its support services, the nonprofit operates an upscale resale store in Lake Forest and San Juan Capistrano. Each shop does about $1 million in gross revenue per year.
There are plans to open a third retail location, and while it hasn’t secured a store, Bayston said it’s considering areas further north like Orange and Costa Mesa.
It’s also looking to expand its programs by early next year with new classes such as art therapy and self-defense.
Bayston emphasized its mission to serve families has been able to continue because of teamwork.
“It’s the people,” she said. “Knowing that we have the right people in the right place all working toward a common goal … it energizes me [and] we’ve got people who are really truly dedicated to what we’re doing in the community.”
