11.15 Gathering Data: Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For (Objs. 3, 4) Even in these tough…
11.15 Gathering Data: Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For (Objs. 3, 4)
Even in these tough economic times, some companies continue to spend lavishly on unusual employee perks such as massages and sauna visits, hold on to generous compensation and benefits, and don’t lay off workers as a matter of principle. At the same time, they remain profitable. Chances are that you haven’t heard of the newest top three among Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For—tech giant SAS, investment advisor Edward Jones, and New York–based Wegmans Food Markets. The perennial favorite, Google, slipped to fourth place. Fourteenth-ranked outdoor powerhouse REI attracts active types who may bring their dogs to work, go on a midday bike ride, and test the products they sell. Sound nice? Just as companies have their distinctive corporate cultures, they also differ in why they are perceived as ideal employers.
Your Task. Visit the Fortune magazine Web site at http://www
.fortune.com/bestcompanies for the most current 100 Best Companies to Work For. Examine the information about the top 20 or 25 highest-ranked companies. Watch the short video clips profil-
ing each business. After studying the information, identify factors that attract and please workers. Take note of features shared across the board, but don’t overlook quirky, unusual benefits. Summarize these trends in an informational memo report. Alternatively, prepare an analytical report investigating employee satisfaction gleaned from the secondary data obtained on the Fortune site.
