LARGO — Instead of its usual holiday party last December, Bayshore Home Care held an ’80s gala to celebrate its founding in 1986. As big-haired employees in jeans and rock-concert shirts streamed into the Hilton Carillon Park, other hotel guests took notice. “Since it was right before Christmas, most people were in suits so we got a lot of looks,” says Todd Atkinson, who with sister Suzanne Johnson owns the home health care agency.
The ’80s bash not only was “great fun,” Johnson says, it fostered the kind of team spirit that helps Bayshore retain skilled, caring employees in an industry where that can often be a challenge. The camaraderie also helped make Bayshore one of the Tampa Bay Times Top Workplaces this year, the seventh consecutive year it has earned the honor.
In all, 13 health-care related companies were among the Top Workplaces — the most in any single category.
“Health care is a big part of (the nation’s) GDP,” Atkinson notes.
When their mother, Dianne, started Bayshore 31 years ago, the concept of “aging in place” — living at home as long as possible — was just starting to take hold. At that time there were only a few other private-duty agencies in Pinellas County. Now there are dozens. READ THE FULL ARTICLE