100 Best Places to Work in IT 2009
Employer Profile
Why You Want to Work There
Top 10 ranking: No. 5 for retention Having a secure job, especially in today's economy, is what really matters to many IT workers. Since this St. Louis-based online brokerage open its doors in 1980, it has never had to lay off an IT worker. The company says it plans ahead for market fluctuations, sometimes taking smaller profit margins rather than cutting payroll costs. Training is also a key part of the equation; indeed, professional development helped half of the IT staff earn promotions last year. Rewarding good performance is another cornerstone. The Total Rewards Program for IT workers includes performance-based quarterly bonuses, advancement opportunities, on-the-spot recognition, discretionary bonuses and other means of acknowledging people. The on-the-spot recognition program, known as Above & Beyond, rewards people whose work is consistently superior or who embrace teamwork, are innovative, deliver outstanding customer service, demonstrate a commitment to the company's core values, show initiative or take responsibility for learning new skills. Employees can acknowledge one another with e-cards, scratch tickets and other certificates of appreciation, all of which hold point values. Accumulated points can be redeemed for prizes, including an all-expenses-paid vacation.
| Rank by company size | Medium, No. 5 |
| Employee Statistics | |
| Total employees | 2,500 |
| Total IT employees | 315 |
| IT employee turnover in 2008 | 7% |
| IT employee promotions in 2008 | 52% |
| Training | |
| Training days offered per IT employee in 2008 | 10 |
| Training budget per IT employee in 2008 | $2,750 |
| Women in IT | |
| Total percentage of women within IT | 25% |
| Percentage of IT managers who are women | 43% |
| Percentage of IT staff who are women | 22% |
| Minorities in IT | |
| Total percentage of minorities within IT | 27% |
| Percentage of IT managers who are minorities | 39% |
| Percentage of IT staff who are minorities | 24% |
