Cary Zeschke, owner of Zeschke Septic Cleaning in Bloomington, Illinois, admits he’s been lucky regarding employees. But he also works at it.
“Some of it boils down to pay,” he says. “But you’ve also got to treat everybody well. We’re like a big family here.”
His team includes his son, Cody, and Ryan Lanham who pump septic tanks and grease traps, and Robin Talsma and Robbin Veitengruber who take care of office duties.
The company provides full health insurance benefits (which he believes everyone should offer if they can), matching 401(k), cellphones, uniforms and supplemental Aflac insurance. On the fun side, they have a Christmas party at a Hibachi restaurant and pass out bonuses a few times a year.
But in 2023, Zeschke went over the top on the fun side. He closed the office for a week and he and his wife Terri took their four employees, the employees’ partners, and their daughter Chelsea and her family to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
He had intended to just put a message on their phone saying they were shut down for the week but at the last minute Lanham’s niece volunteered to answer the phone.
“I told her to just ask their name and phone number. And I reached out to two pumpers in town I’m friends with and asked if they could cover any emergencies. But nothing came up.”
After getting everyone settled into their rooms at the resort, Zeschke provided them with information on activities and excursions in the areas. After that, everyone was on their own for the week, although they often got together for dinners.
One evening meal was courtesy of Lanham. “He went out on a charter fishing excursion and caught a bunch of fish,” Zeschke says. “He brought it all back and the restaurant at the resort cooked it.”
Lanham also didn’t let the romantic setting go to waste. While there, he proposed to his girlfriend.
Zeschke was happy to provide this special treat for his team. “My wife and I had been to Cabo a couple times, but nobody else had been to Mexico before,” he says. “I think everyone had a wonderful time.”
