What Makes a Workplace Great?

We at The Ryan Law Firm like to recognize local business success stories. This month, a Denver marketing agency, the Integer Group, received kudos from the world’s largest association devoted to human resources management.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) named the Integer Group as one of the best medium-sized companies to work for in America. In fact, Integer ranked number 5 on the list. It’s the only Colorado company to receive any ranking by SHRM this year.

The Integer Group has four other offices and employs about 800 people. The company is known for creating campaigns to support promotional marketing efforts for its clients.

How Are the Companies Selected?

The Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America are selected and ranked by the Great Place to Work® Institute, a workplace research and consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco. For this award, SHRM defined a medium-sized company as those with 251 - 999 employees.

Two primary factors go into the ranking: 1) Two-thirds of the score is based on worker responses to a special survey - almost 30,000 employees completed the survey and, 2) one third is based on employer responses to surveys. These surveys ask about such issues as benefits, employee communication, wellness efforts and corporate structure.

What Makes Integer Unique Among Employers?

Integer goes to great lengths to show their workers that they are appreciated. According to Integer, in addition to more traditional benefits, such as health and life insurance and vacation days, Integer has other ways to inspire employees, such as:

· Tokens for a vending machine that dispenses candy that's wrapped in gift certificates;

· Chair massages in the front lobby;

· Sports team sponsorships;

· After-work get-togethers;

· New-Parent Leave;

· Summer Flex Hours ;

· Pet Insurance;

· Discount movie tickets, ski-lift tickets, massage, and more.

Integer also was recognized as "One of Colorado's Best Companies for Working Families" by Colorado Parent Magazine.

Since employee satisfaction is so important for companies, employers can follow Integer’s lead in implementing creative ways to share the wealth with the workers who help create it.

To learn about the eligibility requirements and the nomination process for the 2006 Best Places to Work list, visit www.greatplacetowork.com. The deadline for 2006 applications is Aug. 15, 2005.

Related Web resources:

www.integer.com

www.shrm.org