San Francisco, CA, February 6, 2006 - Great Place to Work ® Institute announced today the five recipients of the 2006 Great Place to Work ® Awards. Acuity, CXtec, J.M. Smucker Company, Four Seasons Hotels and QuikTrip, are being recognized for the innovative and successful approaches they have taken to build great workplaces for their employees.
The Great Place to Work ® Awards honor the accomplishments of organizations that have implemented creative and effective approaches to developing trust, pride and camaraderie within their workplaces. The five honorees were selected this year with particular attention to a culture-specific practice, program, or collection of programs which exemplifies one of the five dimensions of the Great Place to Work ® Model ©: Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie.
This model and definition of great workplaces is the basis of the methodology used by the Institute to select FORTUNE´s "100 Best Companies to Work for" ® and the "50 Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for" published in HR Magazine by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), as well as other best companies lists throughout the world.
"Some people think that benefits alone will build great workplaces, but the truth is that benefits and programs are only as effective as the intention behind them," explains Amy Lyman, Co-Founder of Great Place to Work ® Institute. "Leaders in these five companies have done a remarkable job of implementing programs and practices that fit their cultures, build trust, and address the key areas necessary to create great workplaces."
Company executives will be presented with their awards at the annual Great Place to Work ® Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, April 5-7, 2006. They will also participate in the Best Practice Breakout Sessions where conference attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the high-impact programs and practices utilized and find out how to apply these concepts within their own organizations.
Acuity. As the recipient of this year´s Credibility Award, Acuity is being recognized for its commitment to and successful implementation of authentic two-way communication programs, such as CEO Ben Salzman´s "Gossip Line", designed specifically for the unique culture of this financial services and insurance company.
Four Seasons Hotels. As the recipient of this year´s Respect Award, Four Seasons Hotels is being recognized for its comprehensive three-stage management specific orientation program, in which new managers perform the uniformed duties of their direct reports in order to fully understand and respect each position.
QuikTrip. As the recipient of this year´s Fairness Award, QuikTrip is being recognized for its conflict resolution program that ensures all employees-full and part-time-are treated fairly and equitably.
J.M. Smucker Company. As the recipient of this year´s Pride Award, J.M. Smucker is being recognized for creating an environment where employees feel a strong sense of pride not only in the company´s nationally recognized, respected brand and community standing, but pride in their personal jobs and individual contributions to the company´s success.
CXtec. As the recipient of this year´s Camaraderie Award, CXtec is being recognized for creating a uniquely inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for employees. This technology company makes everyday fun as it continuously engages employees and keeps them excited about coming to work the whole year through.
The conference will also provide in-depth sessions and workshops, formal and informal networking opportunities, and keynotes from distinguished leaders of many of the best companies to work for in the nation including: Isadore Sharp, Chairman & CEO, Four Seasons Hotels, Daniel P. Amos, Chairman & CEO, Aflac; Sally Jewell President & CEO, REI; and Bill Greehey, Chairman & CEO, Valero Energy Corporation. For complete information about attending the Conference, visit www.greatplacetowork-conference.com.
This year´s conference sponsors include some of the companies named to FORTUNE´s "100 Best Companies to Work for" ® list -Aflac, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, SC Johnson and Timberland.
About Great Place to Work ® Institute
Great Place to Work ® Institute, Inc., co-founded by best-selling business author Robert Levering and organizational consultant Amy Lyman, Ph.D. is a global research and consulting firm dedicated to "building a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces." The Institute works with FORTUNE magazine and other leading publications in 26 countries to publish and recognize the "Best Companies to Work for." The Institute also provides advisory and assessment services for organizations who seek to create great workplaces of their own, offers annual conferences on creating trust in the workplace and researches and shares best practices and trends of best companies. In addition to its global headquarters in San Francisco, Great Place to Work ® Institute has 26 affiliates in countries throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. www.greatplacetowork.com