2012 Top Workplaces
2012 Top Workplaces
Welcome to Top Workplaces 2012, an extensive effort to uncover the best employers in the Philadelphia region - as decided by each company's employees. More than 28,000 people took part in this year's survey. We now present the best large, midsize and small companies.
Welcome to Top Workplaces 2012, an extensive effort to uncover the best employers in the Philadelphia region - as decided by each company's employees. More than 28,000 people took part in this year's survey. We now present the best large, midsize and small companies.
- 'Least dysfunctional' and other things workers love at big companies
The Health Partners CEO not only talks about compassion. It's something that he strives to accomplish on the job.
- Why they love their jobs at midsize firms
Like a boxer who moves up in weight class, Tom Spann - last year's top leader for small workplaces - is No. 1 this year for midsize employers.
- Why they love their jobs at the small companies
There is plenty of consensus on the benefits of keeping it small. But if you were to ask small-business owners how life is, you better brace yourself for a litany of hardships.
- Large: Jim McFalls, KenCrest
- Midsize: Janet Lorenzon, Artman Lutheran Home
- Small: Judith Krupnick, Cherry Hill Autos
- Top leaders: Who they are
Although workers want to be paid what's fair, how much they make matters less than how they feel about their work and the people for whom they work. That's why we decided to talk to the two women and one man who lead the businesses that came in first this year on the Top Workplaces list.
The leaders of the top workplaces for 2012:
PHILLYINC: A book published last year says that "good" Fortune 100 companies are better investments, create better work atmospheres and are better stewards of the environment.
What are the "extras" that people love about their jobs? Employees mentioned plenty of vacation trips, on-site gyms, personal trainers, paintball excursions and a relaxed dress code.
We asked managers: What do you do to encourage innovation by workers? The answers included foosball, an "idea of the month" competition and cash awards.
Who will be adding workers? And what are an applicant's chances? We asked companies about their prospects for hiring this year. And the answers were encouraging.
Respect, praise, listening and genuine rewards are among the things many workers value most from their bosses. And they told us when those qualities were missing.
ViroPharma's employees - from top execs to scientists to support staff - stay the course by participating in disease education, community activities, patient advocacy and "lunch and learns," regular midday opportunities to meet patients to eat, talk and get to know each other.
MEANINGFULAt YouthBuild Charter, teachers' rewards aren't just abundant, they're also nearly immediate. Each year, they take 210 high-school dropouts and shepherd them through a rigorous program of academic, vocational, and community learning with a success rate of 75%.
CAREER GROWTHThe Philadelphia Eagles want their people to dream big, think big and grow beyond their original job descriptions. In fact, 52 of the organization's employees began working there as interns.
CLUED-INFounded and run by a family that believes in careful financial planning, operating without debt, and keeping employees informed and happy, Lincoln Investment didn't lay off a single worker as the recession came and went.
FLEXIBILITYTraining Research Institute's flexible policies on working from home and switching up schedules are integral to not just the well-being of its staff, but also of the people who benefit from their work.
Hands-on, over-and-above coursework is a part of the day-to-day at SPIN, a 40-year-old nonprofit that serves locals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.
Visit the WorkplaceDynamics website for more information about the 2012 workplaces survey, the companies in the survey and an interactive map.
Last year's edition of the Top Workplaces survey.
The Inquirer's annual survey of executive pay tells you which CEOs in the Philadelphia area - or whose companies have operations here - made the most money, gained the most in 2010 and more. Includes an interactive list.
