Family Ties at Cintas

At Cintas, employees are referred to as “partners,” a term that underscores the company’s commitment to mutual respect and a unified team culture. Regardless of one’s title, tenure, or professional background, all individuals are valued equally as part of the organization. For two such employee-partners, however, the bond extends beyond the workplace — they also share the special relationship of mother and daughter.

Jessica and Kyla are two family members who work at Cintas. Jessica, Kyla’s mother, is an 11-year partner who works as a Shared Services Compliance Supervisor at the Dayton, Ohio, location. Kyla, a Consolidated Accounts Payable, has been with Cintas for five years and, after working four years at the Cintas location in Omaha, Nebraska, has returned to the Dayton location and now works alongside her mom.

With more than 46,000 employee-partners, hundreds of locations nationwide, and a multitude of departments and positions, the company provides a unique opportunity to work for the same organization and be situated in the same place — something they don’t take for granted.

“You gain a different level of respect for each other when you work together and see how they are in the office versus at home,” said Jessica. “It's been great to watch that from a distance, from a mom's perspective, and have a little bit of a peek into the professional development of your child.”

Kyla said that working with her mom at Cintas has motivated her to advance in her career.

“She’s really instilled in me to be driven in my job and to try and excel and grow in my role and for future opportunities,” said Kyla.

Cintas, noted by Newsweek as one of America’s greatest workplaces for parents and families, offers a work environment conducive to raising a family and working beside them, which was a main draw for Jessica.

“I was first drawn to the dependable schedule, benefits, and pay. Those were super important when raising a family,” said Jessica.

“But once I started my career at Cintas, I was really drawn to the opportunities for career development. Those opportunities are why I’m here 11 years later.”

Kyla knew Cintas was a great place to work because of her mom’s experience, which is also how she learned about the position she currently holds. Like her mom, Kyla would discover more about the opportunities and culture that define Cintas.

“My mom was the one who told me about the job opportunity with Cintas, and after seeing the position and benefits, I was really intrigued,” said Kyla. “I like the consistency of my job, and I feel like my personality fits right in with most of our employee-partners' personalities, so I feel like I fit in this role.”

Working with your family can create a dynamic relationship that offers unique challenges and benefits. Jessica stresses that while she loves the opportunity to work side by side with Kyla at Cintas, she understands the importance of giving her space so she can forge her own path of experiences.

“I really want her to be able to pave her own path in her journey at Cintas,” said Jessica. “I hope she knows that I'm always here for support, but she's already equipped for everything that she needs in her professional journey. I’ve had wonderful experiences with so many of our employee-partners, and I want her to have that personal experience as well.”

By making choices like these, Jessica and Kyla have strengthened their personal and professional bond, allowing room for individuality while staying a constant source of support for one another. This type of support has inspired Kyla and pushed her to bring the same type of spirit.

“My mom inspires me to be the best at whatever it is I am doing,” said Kyla. “She is very supportive and helpful with anything I have going on, so I want to make sure I bring that same energy to the people around me. She inspires me with how positive she is.”

As Jessica and Kyla continue to inspire one another, their story serves as a testament to the strength of family relationships and the unique opportunities that arise when family life intersects with work. It's an opportunity that Jessica says you can’t put a price on.

“I really don't think that I could ever verbalize how grateful I am for the opportunities that have been given to me and my family,” said Jessica. “There's really no dollar value that can be put on trusting your employer and enjoying your job, and I'm just very grateful that Kyla gets the same benefit.”

What started as a family business has grown into a Fortune 500 company. Yet, Jessica and Kyla demonstrate that, despite the organization's size and success, the family spirit remains.