A 2002 study by Watson Wyatt showed that the total return to shareholders in a high-trust organization was almost three times higher than in low trust organizations. The Gallup organization measured the strength of the workplace and found a direct correlation between a “best place to work” and productivity, profitability and employee retention. Numerous studies have validated that engaged employees create happy customers and happy customers attract more customers.
That is why the “Best Places to Work in Idaho” program was started in 2008. A partnership between the Idaho Business Review, the state’s most recognized business newspaper, and Populus, a national survey research company based on Boise, was founded to help businesses build a strong workplace and receive special state-wide recognition for their results.
The program, endorsed by several chambers of commerce and other business associations throughout Idaho, can improve employee retention rates, increase overall employee engagement, and ultimately, increase the bottom line for participating companies. During the first two years, more than twenty companies were recognized as “best places to work.” Many more have benefited from the confidential employee feedback that measures their workplace and compares them with best places to work across the state.
In 2009, Price Associates joined as a third program sponsor, both to encourage organizations to participate and to help interpret the results for continuous improvement. As a result, several companies received in-depth reports along with individual debriefings from a Price Associates expert.
How do businesses get involved in "Best Places to Work in Idaho"
Organizations with twenty or more employees begin by registering at www.bestpacestoworkinidaho.com where they learn more about the program and past winners. The registration period for the 2010 program has begun. Employees are asked to complete anonymous surveys. The greater the employee participation, the better the feedback businesses receive.
The “Best Places to Work in Idaho” program captures employee feedback in five different areas.
1) Employee Growth and Development
2) Work Environment
3) Company Management
4) Compensation and Benefits
5) Work-Life Balance
Overall results for these five categories are provided confidentially to participating organizations in 2010 free of charge, along with comparisons to top performers. These results are provided to designated executives in each organization through a password protected “Best Places to Work in Idaho” Web site.
In addition, workshops are available through Price Associates to dig deeper into the results and identify specific strategies for improving future performance. Detailed reports can be provided at tiered pricing based on the size of the organization, with Price Associates experts helping to interpret the results and provide suggestions for continuous improvements.
The registration period for the 2010 program has begun. Eligible organizations that sign up for the 2010 program by October 31 will receive a complimentary copy of the book, “How to Become an Employer of Choice” by Human Resource thought leaders Roger E. Herman and Joyce L. Gioia.
A calculation of the surveys will be performed by POPULUS. Winners will be announced by the Idaho Business Review in March 2010, followed by a special recognition event planned at Boise State University on April 29.
For more information about the program, go to www.BestPlacesToWorkInIdaho.com or
write to info@price-associates.com .