What do they say about the family who laugh together?

They stay together.

And that’s just how it goes at Pawtucket Credit Union, the Best Place To Work among large companies in the 2012 competition produced by Best Companies Group and sponsored by Providence Business News, the second win in the category for PCU.

The family atmosphere is bolstered not only by great benefits and a sense of community, but by a prevalence of laughter throughout the day and one cold, hard fact: They’ve never laid off a single employee.

“We are allowed to be productive at work, yet at the same time, express ourselves as individuals,” said Anne Bernier-LaFleur, vice president of human resources at the 85-year-old institution.

“PCU has never had a layoff, so we all have a sense that our jobs are here for us. Additionally, PCU takes the time to give recognition for a job well done,” she said. Even during recent difficult economic times, employees were given increases and bonuses to recognize their hard work and strategic-goal achievements. We have a great management team that put all of the pieces into place.”

PCU soon will open its 15th branch in Rhode Island. It is known for providing excellent service and quality products for its members, a trait that has stuck as it continues to grow in a difficult economy. PCU prides itself on its broad and competitive retail and commercial product lines, including mortgages, home equity and auto loans – plus attractive deposit and loan rates with competitive banking fees.

Given all that, you may be surprised to find out that during all that economic heavy-lifting, the credit union’s staff is also having a good time.

As proof, Bernier-LaFleur said you can often hear laughter coming from different departments when you are walking through the building. “As a PCU family, we recognize our employees’ life stages, from babies, graduations, marriages and ultimately, deaths. We provide employees with a homebuyer program, to help them when purchasing a home and support our employees by providing scholarships to their children,” Bernier-LaFleur said.

Employee longevity is a mainstay. “Just last year, an employee celebrated 50 years of employment with PCU. This year, our [chief operating officer] will celebrate his 40th anniversary with PCU,” said Bernier-LaFleur.

To put it simply, PCU is a place where employees celebrate the stages of life with one another. This applies to milestones in and out of the office.

Its Employee Appreciation Week is just as it sounds. The company takes an entire week to demonstrate how important employees are to the organization. PCU offers plenty of food, fun, games and prizes that are shared by all.

The holiday party features not only a live band, but dinner options that include steak and shrimp, a dessert buffet table and – wait for it – an open bar.

On the other side of the party coin is PCU’s extensive wellness program that includes Zumba and Boot Camp exercise programs at discount prices, a wellness library and chair massages.