Agilent TechnologiesTHREE-TIME WINNERA year of milestones; how the winners were chosen; facts and figures of winners over the yearsBest Places to Work 2012 winner profiles20--50 employees51--100 employees101--250 employees251--500 employees501--1,000 employees1,001-plus employees1,001-plus employeeslisted alphabeticallyAgilent TechnologiesKaiser Permanente - Santa RosaKaiser Permanente - San RafaelNorthBay Healthcare Corp.
SANTA ROSA -- As a major global measurement technology company, Agilent has been a leading employer and a responsible corporate citizen in Sonoma County for 40 years.
"Hiring is up, and we had record-setting business results in 2011, thanks to our 1,150 outstanding employees who benefited from this success through the company's biannual profit-sharing program," said Guy Sene, Agilent Electronic Measurement Group president.
Agilent encourages all employees to be as good as they can be. "It is a very positive place when it comes to people and attitudes with a focus on innovation and technological leadership. Every person at every level is approachable," an employee said.
Employee health is very important. "We have a gym, showers, trained instructors teaching exercise classes every day and a wonderful employee garden, where I can peacefully take teleconference calls or just watch others plant and grow their produce."
Management supports a work--life balance by making it comfortable to take time off. "We can set our own start-stop flex-schedules -- as long as we put in eight hours."Kaiser Permanente -- Santa RosaSEVEN-TIME WINNER
SANTA ROSA -- The Family Wellness and Sports Festival, plus an on-site gym, yoga, Pilates and weight training programs, are things that help make Kaiser the best place to work. The success and excitement generated by these programs sustains morale for its 2,450 employees.
"Kaiser has a progressive, inclusive attitude when it comes to other cultures and lifestyles. Through our Diversity Committee, we make civility, compassion, and diversity the cornerstones of a successful and healthy team," an employee said.
"Our culture is highly collaborative with a commitment to patient care and a strong partnership between labor and management as we improve the health of all the communities we serve and provide an outstanding experience for our patients," said Kirk Pappas, M.D., physician in chief.
Another employee said, "The standard of care is at the highest professional level. I admire what Kaiser stands for, patient-centered integrated medicine, with an integrated team approach to wellness and prevention. I'm proud to be a part of it."Kaiser Permanente -- San RafaelSEVEN-TIME WINNER
SAN RAFAEL -- The "Live Well, Be Well" campaign embodies the company's concern for fit employees. "We are encouraged to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others. We live to serve," one said.
Kaiser's Wellness Program is for all employees and includes personal health assessments and coaching, a walking club, exercise classes and wellness lectures.
Gary Mizono, M.D., physician in chief said, "The pride and dedication of our employees to our mission and the pervasive spirit of innovation are what makes our company great. Our Healthy Community goal embodies our commitment to improve the health of our 2,050 employees and all the communities we serve."
Kaiser donates office space twice a week to the RotaCare Free Clinic and many physicians and staff volunteer.
"We are in the business of prevention and healing," one worker said. "I love working here and proud of my company. We are encouraged to question, challenge and improve our practices for the best outcome possible. Supervisors listen and act on our suggestions. Our department has great people who really care."
Judy Coffey, senior vice president and area manager for Sonoma and Marin, said, "Our culture is highly collaborative with a commitment to patient care and a strong partnership between labor and management as we improve the health of all the communities we serve and provide an outstanding experience for our patients."
The "Live Well, Be Well" campaign recognizes the company's concern for fit employees. "We are encouraged to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others."NorthBay Healthcare CorporationFIRST-TIME WINNER
FAIRFIELD -- For more than 50 years, NorthBay has been the primary provider of hospital care for upper Solano County residents.
"We live 'Mission, Compassionate Care, Advanced Medicine, Close to Home' and have a warm family spirit in a nurturing environment where people are creative, energized and enthusiastic," an employee said.
"Our staff makes a great difference in people's lives," said Gary Passama, president and CEO. "NorthBay maintains highly competitive wages, benefits and working conditions for employees while avoiding mass layoffs, salary freezes and benefits reductions," he said.
"Our CEO blogs regularly on the employee website to keep everyone up to date," one worker said. "He holds open staff meetings to provide state-of-the-company news and to answer questions," an employee said.
Living Northbay is a 24/7 web-based peer and management recognition system used to celebrate achievements and show appreciation.
Employees say NorthBay has a diverse and skilled workforce, dynamic and nimble leadership, fair human resources practices and always strives to do better.
"We have an incredibly friendly and helpful staff and managers willing to pitch in whenever needed."
