2 weeks Ago By James Wilkins
While the players on the court are often the stars of the show, all 310 employees who make up the Orlando Magic organization are vital to the team’s success on and off the hardwood. For creating a winning workplace organization, the Orlando Magic are the Orlando Sentinel’s 2024 Top Workplaces in Central Florida winner in midsize company category. Magic CEO Alex Martins described the work environment as “collaborative” and stressed the organization strives to maintain a healthy balance between hard work and a welcoming, entertaining atmosphere.
“It’s really a work-hard-play-hard type of environment, and we try to create a culture where everybody is inspired to come to work every day, knows that their contributions matter and are important to the success of the organization,” he said. “And at the same time, we’re trying to create that environment where everybody really enjoys coming to work.” Martins knows the work environment of the Magic well, working his way up the organization from the team’s public relations director in 1989 to CEO in 2006.
Based around core values of community, innovation, teamwork and legendary moments, the Magic extend those values to the employee and workplace experience. “We drive change through collective creativity and foster an environment where employees are encouraged to take risks in an effort to achieve breakthrough results,” the company said in its Top Workplaces entry. “We develop innovative ideas to achieve added value for our colleagues, partners, fans and the community.
” Health and wellness is also a major factor in workplace happiness, according to Martins. “We focus on wellness, things like providing on-site flu shots and pneumonia shots,” he said. “We have wellness competitions, we have an annual wellness day, there’s a weekly wellness email that goes out, and so we really focus on the health and wellness of our employees.
” A workplace committee called FunAddicts helps plan fun employee events, he added, and Gamechange(HERS), a resource group for female employees, provides a healthy and engaging environment. Martins said employees are also rewarded for their hard work during the season with extra time off during the offseason. “We have reduced work days, every other Friday off on a paid basis, we have paid parental leave for all of our employees,” he added.
Beyond the workplace, the Magic give back to the community through charitable efforts. About $2 million is given to Central Florida individuals and organizations each year by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise and grants. Since the team’s first season in 1989, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has distributed more than $29 million to local nonprofit community organizations.
The organizations support at-risk, youth-based programs in the arts, education, housing, health and wellness. With the Magic as the recipient of a 2024 Top Workplace designation, Martins said he’s glad others recognize the work its employees do every day, both in and out of the office. “My experience is one that it is a great environment to come to work in every day, and it’s an environment that really motivates people to stay for a long time,” Martins said.
“I’ve been with the organization for 30 years and that’s not rare.”.
