Tag Archives: Best Places to Work in Indiana

Talented Employees Seek Out the Best (Places to Work in Indiana)

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Job seekers use many tools for finding employment. And talented employees who know they deserve to work for the best companies around are using the Best Places to Work in Indiana list to enhance their searches.

Using comprehensive employee surveys and employer reports as the determination for inclusion in the list, the Best Places to Work in Indiana program promotes and celebrates the top employers in the state of Indiana.

Our Tom Schuman gives a two-minute look at a few benefits of participating, including how the “Best Places to Work in Indiana” designation can enhance your search for talented employees.

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Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 program at www.bestplacestoworkin.com. Don’t wait long; the deadline to apply is Friday, November 17.

Company Philanthropy: How Important Is It to Workers?

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A press release from OfficeTeam touts that 42% of job seeks want to work for companies that give back to the community. I’m surprised the number isn’t higher.

Companies in the Best Places to Work in Indiana program often tout their giving programs and employees cite that caring nature.

Here are the details:

Workers were asked, “To what extent does a company’s participation in charitable activities influence your decision to work there?” The responses:

 

  • A great deal: 17%
  • Somewhat: 25%
  • Not at all: 56%
  • Don’t know: 2%

“Although not everyone cares about working for companies that give back to the community, the segment of the workforce that values corporate altruism can’t be ignored,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Philanthropy programs can be a selling point when recruiting candidates and also help improve employee retention. Organizations can increase team morale and participation in charitable activities by aligning with causes that resonate with staff.”

OfficeTeam identifies five ways to incorporate philanthropic activities into your company’s workplace:

1. Give back. Organize a clothing, toy or food drive that benefits a nonprofit organization.

2. Get involved. Provide the opportunity for employees to volunteer as a group at a soup kitchen or beach cleanup. This doubles as a great team-building activity.

3. Show your support. Sponsor, host or participate in a charity event such as an auction or 5K run.

4. Chip in. Donate to causes that matter most to employees, such as disaster-relief efforts or local schools.

5. Match it. Consider offering a matching-gifts program that supplements workers’ charitable contributions or activities.

Throwback Thursday: Senior Staffers Still Going Strong a Decade Later

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I recently came upon the Indiana Chamber’s 2003 Annual Report. In reviewing our old products, a snapshot of our web site at the time and the overall design elements in our marketing materials, I discovered a lot can change in 10 years.

However, what struck me most was what hasn’t. On this page featuring our senior staff leaders at the time, you see Darla Barnett (CFO), Jennifer Elkin (Senior VP), Mark Lawrance (Senior VP) and Jim Wagner (Director of Business Development). What’s quite intriguing is that all of those people are STILL on the Chamber staff in 2013. (The page also lists our former VP of Labor Relations George Raymond as the fifth senior staff member — who just retired from the Chamber last year.)

Hopefully this speaks to our workplace culture that our most experienced employees are with us for the long haul, and it’s a pleasure to work in their company.

And speaking of workplace culture, we look forward to honoring other Indiana companies for their efforts at the 9th Annual Best Places to Work in Indiana Awards Dinner on May 1.

New Role for Our Heroes

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Several other Chamber staff and I learned more recently about the American Jobs for America's Heroes campaign. With our upcoming business and military tribute at the 24th Annual Awards Dinner, there is no better time to share some of the details:

Hiring National Guard members is a win-win for your company, your community and veterans and their families.  The nonprofit American Jobs for America’s Heroes campaign gives you free, direct access to highly trained National Guard members who are transitioning to civilian jobs.

“Hiring Guard members is a win for employers because they bring tremendous skills and teamwork values to the workplace – they’re very results-oriented and creative in achieving their objectives,” said Steve Nowlan, campaign director.  “Keeping Guard units strong helps our communities.  We all depend on the Guard to help during disasters and to defend our country."

Employers also benefit because the National Guard trains in 107 occupational specialties, making the men and women of the National Guard among the most highly qualified employment candidates in America.  Guard members are focused on continuous learning and improvement so they excel in advanced job training.

Learn about the success Total Quality Logistics (its Indianapolis operation was named a 2013 Best Places to Work) has had in hiring Guard members.  https://www.CenterForAmerica.org/tql.pdf

In this campaign, your free job postings flow directly to National Guard employment counselors in the states who work one-on-one with Guard candidates to match them to your job requirements.  These counselors help you understand how military training and experience translates to your civilian requirements.

You can watch a five-minute video about the campaign – www.CenterForAmerica.org/video.html — and then visit the web site at www.CenterForAmerica.org to register online.  A campaign counselor will contact you to set up your posting and answer questions.  All services are free.  More than 935 employers are already participating.

Questions?  Contact: Steve Nowlan, Center for America, 201-513-0379 or SNowlan@CenterForAmerica.org.

The 2013 Best Places to Work in Indiana Are …

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We're in the process of putting the finishing touches on the Best Places to Work issue of BizVoice magazine. What can I tell you that won't spoil the secret of where the 100 companies on the list are ranked in each of the four categories?

  • The 100 companies are a record, topping the 70 honored in each of the last two years. There's room for plenty more. If you apply and meet the Best Companies Group criteria in your benefit offerings — and more importantly in the eyes of your employees — you can join the fun
  • There are four categories, based on number of U.S. employees, in 2013 (and in ensuing years)

But you knew that already. What will you be able to read in this BizVoice?

  • Info about all 100 winners
  • In-depth profiles of the top three in each category
  • Columns from five honorees on what it means to be a Best Place to Work and how their organization has benefitted from previous recognition
  • Employees from 10 more businesses on the list, telling what they enjoy most about coming to work every day and which company perk is their favorite
  • A roundtable discussion with four companies that did not make the list in 2012
  • How some try to deal with "turning off the technology" and creating an even stronger work-life balance
  • Summary results from both the employer questionnaire and employee survey

For the rest, you will have to wait for the May 2 awards dinner at the JW Marriott, when 1,200 friends join us for a true Indiana business celebration. BizVoice will be online late that evening with the print edition on the way to your mailbox.

And if you're wondering why your company wasn't included — it probably didn't apply. The applications for 2014 begin in August. Learn more.

Top Companies Rank Top Goals

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Two of the many Indiana Chamber programs/initiatives that we are proud of are the Best Places to Work in Indiana program and our Indiana Vision 2025 economic development plan.

We combined the two in a strictly unscientific survey, asking the Best Places applicants to prioritize five of the Indiana Vision 2025 goals. There are no right or wrong answers, of course, but it's interesting to see how these top organizations rank some of the strategies that will help move our state forward.

The five goals and the average rank (1 being most important, 5 least important):

  • Develop entrepreneurship and aggressively promote business start-ups through education, networking, investment and financial support: 2.3
  • Diversify Indiana's energy mix with an emphasis on clean coal, nuclear power and renewables: 4.2
  • Enact comprehensive local government refrom at the state and local levels to increase efficiency and effctiveness in delivery of services: 3.4
  • Increase to 90% the proportion of Indiana students who graduate from high school ready for college and/or career training: 2.1
  • Increase to 60% the proportion of Indiana residents with high quality postsecondary credentials: 3.0

Work is ongoing on all the Indiana Vision 2025 goals. The 2013 Best Places to Work program will culminate with the May 2 awards dinner. Rankings will be revealed at that event and BizVoice magazine will profile the 100 winners.

It’s All About Becoming Better

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Awards and rankings earn a great deal of attention when the subject is the annual Best Places to Work in Indiana program. No one can argue with the fact that recognition is nice, but the real core of BPTW is helping create the best possible workplaces. The true winners when that happens — employees, the organizations they work for and everyone connected to that operation.

This blog post from Tim Leman of Gibson celebrates the company's first-time BPTW ranking but also captures the essence of BPTW and shows that his team was on the right track long before this recent honor.

Among the sound advice from Leman and Gibson:

Disclose your shortcomings to your employees and don’t make excuses for them

  • Acknowledge that you can be better as an organization
  • Let your guard down and truly look to see things from a new perspective
  • Decide to address the issues
  • Show you’re serious by following through and very purposely making it a part of everything you do
  • Keep desiring to improve and communicate your progress to your people

Congratulations to all the Best Places winners and participants. Gibson, by the way, is ranked No. xx (I can't tell you that; you have to be there at the May 2 awards dinner to celebrate with all 100 companies on the list for 2013.

Thinking about applying for 2014? Learn more from Best Companies Group.

Best Places to Work Deadline is Friday

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What does it take to be a Best Place to Work in Indiana?

Check out these links for just a few reasons why three of our past winners have been selected: Indianapolis-based E-gineering; Fort Wayne-based Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company; and Merrillville-based Centier Bank.

The deadline to enter the annual Indiana Chamber-led program, which honors the top companies in Indiana according to confidential employee surveys and employer information, is this Friday — November 30. BPTW is open to Hoosier-based companies and organizations with a facility and at least 15 full-time workers in the state. All entrants receive an employee feedback report – a valuable tool that identifies a company’s strengths and weaknesses, according to its employees.

Winning company rankings will be announced at an awards dinner on May 2, 2013 in downtown Indianapolis at the JW Marriott.

Register by going online or by calling the Best Companies Group at (877) 455-2159.

Poll Voters Say “Keep It Flexible”

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Best Places to Work in Indiana companies offer a variety of benefits that help them earn that honor. When we asked you which were most valuable from an employee perspective, the "F’s" won:

  • 43%: flexible scheduling
  • 37%: family friendly options (telecommuting, job share, etc.)

One could reasonably argue those two are closely related. And that’s fine, because remember this isn’t  a scientific poll. The bottom line is that people want choices in combining their work and family lives. If they are good employees, those choices and employer understanding may make them even more productive.

By the way, a comprehensive wellness program received the other 20% of the vote. Learn more about the BPTW program for 2013.

Check out the new poll (top right) related to government’s role in growing new businesses.

Straight from the Heart(land): All Ideas Welcome Here

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Bob Carr is founder (in 1997) and still leader of Heartland Payment Systems, the fifth largest credit card processor in the country. Its Jeffersonville-based Heartland Service Center was recently honored in the seventh annual Best Places to Work in Indiana program. Check out their story.

One nugget that didn’t make the story cut was Heartland’s "I have an idea" program. Think of it as a suggestion box on steroids. Not only can anyone (including customer advocates, or call center reps in training) offer their thoughts, but they all go directly to Carr in his Princeton, New Jersey office.

This is a company with more than 2,600 associates across the country. Carr either responds directly or enlists someone on the management team to find out more information about the proposal before answering the employee.

Jeff Nichols, head of operations in Jeffersonville and a 15-year member of the Heartland team, explains: "We recognize if we have to make decisions and don’t take in information from every channel, we’re limited by our own creativity. Anybody in the company can send in an idea. We’ve implemented hundreds and hundreds. Some are very big and save the company money. Some are just simple things."

Kudos to Carr and Heartland, along with rest of the Best Places to Work winners. Learn more about these organizations in the current BizVoice.