MILWAUKEE, Jan. 22, 2008 – For the fifth consecutive year, Baird has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, a prominent annual ranking of top U.S. companies based on workplace attributes and employee feedback. Baird, an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, ranked 39 this year.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the best places to work in the nation,” said Paul E. Purcell, Baird Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer. “This recognition is a tribute to the efforts of more than 2,200 Baird associates, as well as their passion for achieving great outcomes for our clients, respect for one another and dedication to the communities in which we live and work.”
FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For are identified through a detailed analysis done by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Companies are ranked based on an extensive two-part questionnaire, which covers employment and benefits data and quality-of-workplace topics, and on surveys completed by randomly selected employees. Employee responses constitute two-thirds of a company’s total score.
“We’re especially proud to be included on this list because it means our associates believe Baird is a great place to work,” said Leslie Dixon, Baird’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “The list is comprised of the nation’s top employers and to be named to it for five consecutive years means we can attract and retain the top talent we need to best address our clients’ needs.”
Other notable companies on FORTUNE’s 2008 100 Best Companies to Work For list include: Google, Goldman Sachs, Edward Jones, and S.C. Johnson.
Baird’s efforts to provide a great workplace start with the firm’s culture, which incorporates the shared values of honesty, integrity and genuine concern for clients and respect for associates. Baird actively encourages
associates to find a balance between work, home and the community, and provides perks such as flexible work arrangements, tuition reimbursement, and online and classroom training through the firm’s in-house Baird University.
Core to Baird’s culture is a commitment to the communities in which its associates live and work. This caring commitment is a tradition built through the efforts of the firm, the Baird Foundation and the community involvement of Baird associates. As evidence of this commitment, 98 percent of Baird’s Milwaukee-area associates donated to the 2007 United Way campaign and 97 percent donated to the United Performing Arts Fund in 2007. To recognize the generosity and commitment of Baird associates, the United Performing Arts Fund created the Robert W. Baird Outstanding Achievement in Employee Giving Award in 2005.
Baird’s firmwide Charitable Gift Matching Program provides a match for associates’ financial contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Associates also receive an additional paid day off each year to perform volunteer service through the “Baird Cares” program.