The SHRM Maine State Council's Best Places to Work in Maine awards dinner was held Oct 13 and 31 companies were award the designation. There were some familiar faces - Androscoggin Savings Bank, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems & Oxford Networks – and some new ones – Barclaycard US, Garrand, and Burgess Advertising and Marketing. Congratulations to all those companies who not only won the award but also took part in the process.
The Best Places to Work in Maine award is not giving to companies based on their annual revenue or financial contributions to cities or organizations. To find a Best Place to Work, you ask the workers. You see, Best Places to Work in Maine is a program that companies partake in every year that helps gauge their employee's feel for their employer. Each company is given a survey to provide to their employees that addresses benefits, management, training and development, etc. These anonymous surveys are then tabulated by an objective third-party – the Best Companies Group – and the results are provided to the employer in the form of a report. Awards are given based on how the companies rank with each other in terms of survey results.
While it's a tribute to the employee engagement of these companies who are honored with the award, the survey report is the most beneficial part of the program all participants. This report provides detailed information on where organizations are succeeding with their employees and where they are not—items vital to the business success no matter what their product.
Job seekers that see the Best Places 2009 logo in a company's marketing material should know that it is the employees of those organizations who determined this designation.
For more information on the Best Places to Work in Maine program visit www.bestplacestoworkinme.com.
You can also find a list and rankings for 2009 here.
