Area Employers Named Among Best to Work For
On February 7th, Fortune Magazine released its list of “100 Best Companies to Work For”.
By weighing factors like health care coverage, child care provided, promotion of work-life balance, telecommuting options, allowed lengths of sabbaticals and unusual perks, the publication compiled a list of employers from all over the country whose employees have been surveyed as being among the happiest in the work force.
While the 100-strong list doesn’t contain any businesses that originate from the Maryland area, there are several entries in the magazine’s collection whose headquarters are located throughout Maryland, DC and Virginia. Likewise, several entries on Fortune’s list have branches of operation that are prominent throughout the MD/DC/VA region.
Among companies who are headquartered nearby, Delaware-based W.L. Gore and Associates and Bethesda, MD-headquartered Marriot International were two distinct entries on Fortune’s list.
Gore and Associates, which manufactures products derived from fluoropolymers to be used in a number of different industries, was cited at 31 among the best companies to work for because its corporate culture makes for “a lack of hierarchy and few traditional job titles”. Employees of the manufacturing firm possess a tolerance for ambiguity that makes that unique culture possible.
Marriott International, the hotel chain with locations all throughout the region, came in at number 71 (up from 82 the previous year) on the list due to the health care policy that it implemented in the midst of the economic downturn.
When a drop in business made it so that employees of the hotel giant were moved from full time status to part time, leaders within the organization changed the policy so that those employees wouldn’t lose that coverage and the policy remains in effect to this day.
Other area businesses made the list too. With regional and national chains that have locations in the area, the MD/DC/VA area was represented well when it came to the best companies to work for.
Here are some of the notable local entries on the list and why they were included:
- Wegmans Food Market – This company, with more than 75 stores across the Mid-Atlantic, has one location in Hunt Valley and another opening this summer in Frederick. It came in at number 3 on the list for, among other things, giving free health screenings to its employees that included vaccination for both the flu and the H1N1 virus
- Build-A-Bear Workshop – This retailer, which specializes in customized teddy bears and other stuffed animals, has six locations in Maryland and ten in Virginia. It came in at number 48 on the list of best places to work, citing perks like health, dental and vision coverage for part time employees among the benefits that it provides.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) – This consulting firm has offices in Maryland and offers a number of professional services related to things like taxes and human resources. It landed at number 73 on Fortune’s list due to the many telecommuting options available to its employees. PwC is also noted for training that makes for endless opportunities within its organization.
- KPMG – This consulting firm has an office in Baltimore and ranked number 86 on the list of best places to work. The reason for its ranking came partially in thanks to the fact that KPMG employees get 12 paid hours each year to volunteer and are allowed to leave at 3pm on Fridays during the summer.
With the number of companies that are headquartered or operating in the MD/DC/VA area being named as ideal work environments, there are some bright spots for job seekers to look for as the economy recovers and companies across a diverse number of sectors post increasing revenue as time goes on.
At the time of this writing, many of the companies that made Fortune’s list of 100 are hiring as they look to expand their operations.