Is Your Company One of the Best?

Is your company one of the Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in America?  If it is, congratulations! You work where employees "trust the people they work for, have pride in what they do, and enjoy the people they work with."  This prestigious list gets plenty of press and provides ongoing benefits for employers that make it on to the rankings and even the ones who don’t.

 Getting recognized on a Best list is a great goal for any employer.  And don’t think the lists are only for Fortune 500 companies.  The 2008 list has employers from mid-size to giant.  The 2009 deadline just passed but applications are accepted by The Great Place to Work Institute on a rolling basis so you can start now to apply for 2010. 

 The Best Companies Group facilitates 22 separate regional Best rankings in the US and Canada stretching from Maine to Alaska.  They are also the evaluators behind The Best Places to Work in Healthcare and Outside’s Best Places to Work. 

 Forbes Magazine compiles the 200 Best Small Companies while the Great Places to Work Institute and SHRM identify the Best Small and Medium Companies to Work for in America. You still have time to apply for the 2009 Small and Medium Companies list, the application is due in August.

Recognition is available for specific employee populations like;

• Best Employer for Workers Over 50
• Best Companies for Multiracial Women
• Best Women Owned Companies
• Americas Best Places for Latinos to Work.

 I’m sure there are many more.  Your local business or non-profit organization or trade group may have their own programs.  With this plethora of recognition opportunities what’s in it for you as an employer?  It’s a great way to get local, regional and national publicity.  The Best designation will make your employees feel good and give them something to brag about.  It won’t hurt when you are talking to candidates for jobs or even customers.

 These awards are not generated by secretive committees.  Employers apply for them.  The application process may be just a form or may involve surveys of your employees.  Even if you don’t make the list you could get valuable feedback, a formal report and incentive to apply again.

 If you have been recognized as a Best or want to spread the word about an employer recognition program I’d love to hear about it.  If you have not yet made it on to one of these lists I’m looking forward to hearing about it when you do.