Look Who Made The List – “Best Places to Work 2016” (Part 2)

untitledIn January, 2016 we looked at Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards – Best Places to Work 2016 and some great retail and restaurant companies made the list. As promised, we will now look to see who made Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies To Work For 2016”.  (See, http://fortune.com/best-companies/).

For the 10th year in a row, Google made the list and for the 7th time Google is ranked the number one company to work for.  Some of the perks that seem to make it such a great working environment are: high compensation, enhanced health care coverage, telecommuting, job sharing, on-site childcare, on-site fitness center and college tuition reimbursement.

All companies can’t be Google but I’m happy to report that MANY wonderful retail, restaurant and hospitality companies made the list as well. Congratulations to the following:

#4 – Wegmans Food Markets    

Wegmans Food Markets has been on Fortune Magazine’s list since 1998. The company operates over 88 grocery stores in the Northeast and is still growing.  Wegmans is a private company headquartered in Rochester, New York and was founded in 1916.  The company offers employees yoga sessions, cooking classes and a Store Wellness Champion at each location.  (www.wegmans.com)

#13 – Nugget Market

Nugget Market has been on Fortune Magazine’s list eleven times. It is a private, family-owned grocery store chain that was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Woodland, California.  One interesting fact is that Nugget Market has never had a single layoff in its 90-year history. (www.nuggetmarket.com)

#14 – The Container Store

The Container Store has made the list seventeen times and is a company that keeps people organized. The company is public, it was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Coppell, Texas. According to the article, only 3% of applicants are hired.  (www.containerstore.com)

#20 – Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has made the list 7 times. The company was founded in 1981, is headquartered in San Francisco, California and is public.  Some interesting facts noted in the article are that the company offers extensive health insurance coverage (including pet insurance) and it is a leader in human rights and the LGBT rights.  (www.kimptonhotels.com)

#26 – REI           

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (“REI”) is the nation’s largest consumer cooperative and has made Fortune Magazine’s list every year since 1998. It is a private company headquartered in Kent, WA and founded in 1938.  The company provides “Yay Days” to employees, which is paid time-off to go outside and play.   (www.rei.com)

#45 – Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear workshop has gone through a lot of leadership changes over the last few years and apparently it’s working well for the company. It has made the Fortune Magazine list 8 times and by the end of 2015 the company stock more than doubled since the new CEO took over two years before.  The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.  (www.buildabear.com)

#47 – Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt is a global hotel chain that was founded in 1957, is public and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. According to the article, the company recently made a lot of changes to benefit employees including upgraded employee cafeterias, employee lounges with computers, TVs and video games and an environment that encourages everyone to work together.  (www.hyatt.com)

#56 – Hilton Worldwide

Hilton is an international hotel chain and this is its first year on the list. It is a public company that was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.  Hilton has a mentoring program for women and a women’s resource group that hosts leadership events.  (www.hiltonworldwide.com)

#58 – CustomInk

CustomInk is a retailer of custom-made T-shirts and this is its second time on the list. The company is private, was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.  The company has a charitable arm that supports customer causes and it provides no-interest emergency loans to employees.  (www.customink.com)

#63 – IKEA Holding U.S.

IKEA is a Swedish home furnishings retailer that has made the list 4 times. The company is private, was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania (a/k/a “Conchie”).  An interesting fact provided in the article is that every employee gets a “Little IKEA dictionary” to learn values such as humbleness and enthusiasm.  (www.ikea-usa.com)

#67 – Publix Super Markets

Publix is an employee-owned supermarket chain and has been on the list 19 times. It was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Lakeland, Florida.  The company has a very low turnover rate and the employee stock pays out annually.  (www.publix.com)

#70 – Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts has 93 hotels worldwide and 60 more in development. It has been on the list 19 times.  It is a private company founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Toronto, Washington.  Almost half of all positions in the company are filled internally.  (www.fourseasons.com)

#75 – Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is the leading natural food supermarket chain and has been on the list 19 times. It is a public company that was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.  Interestingly, executive salaries are capped, a team’s surplus is distributed among the team and teams are rewarded for coming under budget.  (www.wholefoodsmarket.com)

#76 – QuikTrip

QuikTrip operates over 580 gasoline/convenient stores in 10 states and has made the list 14 times. It is a private company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma and founded in 1958.  Despite the industry average turnover of 80%, according to the article these store operators have only 29% turnover.  (www.quiktrip.com)

#83 – Marriott International

Marriott is about to become the world’s largest hotel company because it is acquiring Starwood Hotels (which includes Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis and W). Marriott is a public company that was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.  It has made the list 19 times.  (www.marriott.com)

#92 – Nordstrom

Nordstrom is an upscale fashion retailer with 323 stores in 39 states. It has made the list 19 times.  Nordstrom is a public company that was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.  Three fourth generation Nordstrom brothers run the company as co-presidents.  (www.nordstrom)

#97 – Sheetz

Sheetz is a convenience store chain with 518 stores in 6 states. It has made the list 2 times.  Sheetz is a private company founded in 1952 and headquartered in Altoona, Pennsylvania. This company apparently loves teeth because it boasts a hefty dental plan. (www.sheetz.com)

#98 – The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory operates 201 restaurants and has made the list 3 times. It is a public company that was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Calabrasas Hills, California.  An interesting fact noted in the article is that 100% of the general managers, executive kitchen managers and area field leaders were hired internally. (www.thecheesecakefactory.com)

Congrats to all of these great companies. Keep up the good work!