By James McNair
Enquirer sStaff wWriter

Take this job and love it.

So say the employees of two Greater Cincinnati companies named Monday to a national list of 50 best small and mid-sized workplaces. The Great Place to Work Institute, which rates large companies for a similar list in Fortune magazine, gave honors to Ohio National Financial Services of Montgomery and Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors of Mount Adams.

The San Francisco-based institute ranked Ohio National 15th out of the 25 companies on its 2004 list of mid-sized companies, which are defined by having 250 to 999 employees. It put Hixson at the No. 8 spot on its list of companies with fewer than 250 employees.

Ohio National, a life insurance company, has 750 employees, most of whom work at the company's headquarters on Pfeiffer Road. The company will share the honor by waiving the $4 admission fee to its Fourth of July picnic on Thursday.

"This is a wonderful recognition, and we are thrilled," said David O'Maley, Ohio National's chairman and chief executive. "Our 750 associates have a vision, spirit and energy which we believe clearly define us and set us apart. This selection honors each of them."

The Great Place to Work Institute bases its rankings on employee surveys. Employees are asked to rate their companies on 55 topics covering credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

Hixson has 105 employees. It designs office buildings, food and beverage facilities and retail stores.

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E-mail jmcnair@enquirer.com