Also: Best Places to work facts and figures and the employee survey
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Companies selected as Best Places to Work in the North Bay were analyzed by the editorial staff of the Business Journal on the basis of several criteria, including the employer application, the survey ratings by employees, the number of responses, size of the company, the breakdown of responses from management and non-management as well as written comments by employees.
In all, 121 companies were nominated, from which 55 winners emerged from Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties.
Winners and are grouped by size so that employee scores are comparable. The winners are then listed within their size categories by employee score.
Nominations for Best Places to Work in the North Bay were sought starting in April. Anyone within a company can nominate their business by completing a simple form. A minimum of 20 employees was required.
Nominated companies were then contacted by the Business Journal and invited to submit a company application and to ask employees to complete a brief online survey.
The survey was set up through Zoomerang, a widely used online polling service. Companies had about four weeks in late June and early July to complete the application and survey, for which a minimum number of responses was required, depending on company size.
After an analysis of the employer application and online responses, the winners were selected and formally announced Aug. 12.
---Brad Bollinger, Business Journal Editor in Chief
Best Places to Work 2009: Facts and FiguresjfjdsfkjlsfdljkfdsjlkdfsljkContest benchmark dates:
Call for nominations: April 13
Deadline for nominations: May 16
Employee and company survey period: Early June to July
Winners selected, notified: Early August
Winners reception: September 30
jfjdsfkjlsfdFour-time winners
Burr Pilger Mayer (formerly Andersen & Company)
Charter Oak Bank
Exchange Bank
First Community Bank
Ghirardo CPA
Heffernan Insurance Brokers
Kaiser Permanente
Pacific Landscapes
Redwood Credit Union
Valley Tire & Brake
jfjdsfkjlsfdYYea rYearYearear: 2009 2008 2007 2006
Participation
Responses (approx.): 4,500 5,000 3,800 3,400
Total nominations: 121 104 132 90
Winners: 55 57 43 24
Winner geographic distribution
Sonoma: 39 43 30 18
Marin: 12 11 11 4
Napa: 5 3 2 2
Size distribution
20 to 50: 25 26 21 12
51 to 100: 12 14 9 5
101 to 500: 17 15 9 5
More than 500: 1 2 4 2
Repeat winners
Four-time winners: 10 na na na
Three-time winners: 14 13 na na
Two-time winners: 13 18 17 na
First-time winners: 18 26 26 24
Best Places to
Best Places to Work – Employee Survey
Employees in the 2009 Best Places to Work survey were asked the following questions in an anonymous online survey.
Please rate the following statements on a scale of 1-5
1 = Never -- Strongly disagree
2 = Sometimes -- Disagree
3 = Regularly -- I neither agree nor disagree
4 = Frequently -- Agree
5 = Always -- Strongly agree
ddddd
Credibility
Management keeps me informed about important issues and changes.
Actions are taken consistent with the vision and promises of the company.
Communications are open and accessible and suggestions are taken seriously.
Respect
Management involves people in decisions that affect their jobs or work environment.
I am offered training and development to further myself professionally.
Individuals' differences and personal lives are acknowledged and respected.
I understand the company's plans for future success.
Fairness
There is a fair system for hiring, promotions and assignment of projects.
Employees are rewarded equally for their work.
My pay rate and benefits compensation are fair for my position in my industry.
A process exists for complaints/suggestions to be addressed without retaliation.
Pride
I take pride in my individual contribution to the company.
I take pride in the work produced by my team/work group.
I take pride in my company's products/services and standing in the community.
The workplace culture encourages innovation and contribution.
I would like to be working at this organization one year from today.
Camaraderie
I feel I am able to be myself at work.
There is a socially friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the office.
My immediate coworkers consistently go the extra mile to achieve great results.
I experience a sense of "family" or "team" with my co-workers.
Additional questions:
What makes your company great?
What could be done to improve the workplace at your company?
How has your company dealt with the challenging business environment?
© 2009 North Bay Business Journal