Methodology: After company representatives completed the first portion of the Best Places to Work in IT survey, they were e-mailed instructions on selecting a random sample of their U.S.-based full- and part-time IT staffers. All participating companies were required to obtain feedback from their employees. The responses to the employee survey went directly to a third-party research vendor. More than 27,000 IT employees from the final 100 companies responded. What follows is aggregate data from the survey of employees at those 100 winning companies:
The Best of the Best
The majority (76%) of employees at the Best Places know they're working at a premier company, and 86% said they are proud to work at their companies. People play a huge role: 95% said they have a good relationship with their co-workers, and 87% said they have a good relationship with their supervisors. Career development and career growth are trickier areas, however. The majority said they have opportunities for career growth at their company (78%), yet only about half say that career path is well defined. And what's most important to them? Fairness in salary.
What's most important to you about your job? (multiple responses allowed)
Being fairly compensated for the work I do 94%
Working in a challenging and enjoyable environment 93%
Having access to training and opportunities that further my skills 90%
Having the means and opportunity to further my career 88%
Being able to work with cutting-edge technologies 73%
Working with a group of people who are culturally and ethnically diverse, with a range of opinions and perspectives 64%
My company is a great place to work in IT
Strongly agree 40%
Agree 36%
Neither agree or disagree 16%
Disagree 6%
Strongly disagree 3%
I am proud to work for my company Strongly agree 54%
Agree 32%
Neither agree or disagree 11%
Disagree 2%
Strongly disagree 1%
There are opportunities for career growth at my company
Strongly agree 33%
Agree 45%
Neither agree or disagree 12%
Disagree 7%
Strongly disagree 3 %
I have a well-defined career path
Strongly agree 13%
Agree 38%
Neither agree or disagree 28%
Disagree 16%
Strongly disagree 5%
I have a good relationship with my co-workers
Strongly agree 57%
Agree 38%
Neither agree or disagree 4%
Disagree 1%
Strongly disagree 0%
I have access to the tools and technologies I need to do my job
Strongly agree 33%
Agree 52%
Neither agree or disagree 9%
Disagree 5%
Strongly disagree 1%
I feel my job is secure
Strongly agree 36%
Agree 39%
Neither agree or disagree 15%
Disagree 7%
Strongly disagree 3%
I am motivated to do my best
Strongly agree 46%
Agree 37%
Neither agree or disagree 10%
Disagree 5%
Strongly disagree 2%
My job is interesting and challenging
Strongly agree 37%
Agree 46%
Neither agree or disagree 12%
Disagree 4%
Strongly disagree 1%
This is a team-oriented company/department
Strongly agree 37%
Agree 42%
Neither agree or disagree 12%
Disagree 6%
Strongly disagree 3%
I have access to training and education to enhance my skills
Strongly agree 34%
Agree 45%
Neither agree or disagree 13%
Disagree 6%
Strongly disagree 2%
Our company is run ethically and honestly
Strongly agree 50%
Agree 36%
Neither agree or disagree 10%
Disagree 2%
Strongly disagree 2%
I have access to new technologies
Strongly agree 28%
Agree 46%
Neither agree or disagree 17%
Disagree 7%
Strongly disagree 2%
My performance is evaluated fairly and with adequate frequency
Strongly agree 30%
Agree 42%
Neither agree or disagree 16%
Disagree 8%
Strongly disagree 4%
I have a good relationship with my supervisor
Strongly agree 50%
Agree 37%
Neither agree or disagree 9%
Disagree 2%
Strongly disagree 2%
I have the opportunity to get involved with interesting projects
Strongly agree 36%
Agree 43%
Neither agree or disagree 13%
Disagree 6%
Strongly disagree 2%
Employee Satisfaction By the Numbers
Most Best Places employees are happy with their compensation and benefits. But a whopping 35% said they feel stressed or very stressed at work.
80% Rate employee morale at their companies as excellent, very good or good
75% Are very satisfied or satisfied with their company's training and development programs
74% Are very satisfied or satisfied with their health benefits
72% Are very satisfied or satisfied with their base salaries
72% Are very satisfied or satisfied with their work/life balance
55% Are very satisfied or satisfied with their bonuses
35% Find their job/workplace very stressful or stressful
How satisfied are you with . . .
Base Salary:
Very satisfied 21%
Satisfied 51%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 14%
Dissatisfied 11%
Very dissatisfied 3%
Bonuses:
Very satisfied 21%
Satisfied 32%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 15%
Dissatisfied 11%
Very dissatisfied 8%
Not applicable 13%
Health benefits:
Very satisfied 30%
Satisfied 44%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 15%
Dissatisfied 8%
Very dissatisfied 3%
Work/life balance:
Very satisfied 28%
Satisfied 43%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 15%
Dissatisfied 10%
Very dissatisfied 4%
Company's training and development programs for IT:
Very satisfied 31%
Satisfied 43%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 14%
Dissatisfied 9%
Very dissatisfied 3%
Morale
Morale among employees at the Best Places is high - 19% rated their department's morale as excellent.
IT Department Morale:
Excellent 19%
Very good 35%
Good 25%
Fair 14%
Poor 7%
Workplace Stress Level:
Very stressful 10%
Stressful 25%
Somewhat stressful 46%
Not very stressful 17%
Not at all stressful 2%
Most-Desired Benefits
Our survey asked IT workers to rank the importance of various benefits on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being "not at all important" and 10 being "extremely important." Here's a look at the benefits that IT workers prize the most (and the least):
Paid vacation: 75%
Health insurance: 68%
Profit sharing/employee stock ownership program/401(k)/403b plan: 51%
Flexible hours: 42%
Telecommuting: 38%
Bonuses: 32%
Reimbursement for technology certification: 27%
Continuing education/executive programs: 26%
Paternity/Maternity: 25%
Overtime pay/Comp time for overtime hours worked: 25%
College tuition reimbursement: 24%
Domestic partner/spousal equivalent/same-sex partner benefits: 18%
Paid or unpaid sabbaticals: 17%
Employee Assistance Programs: 16%
On-site fitness center or fitness membership reimbursement: 14%
Child care: 10%
Job sharing: 9%
Elder care and/or services: 7%
Layoffs
Among respondents who indicated that their company's IT department had layoffs in 2006 (14%), nearly half said those layoffs had no impact:
How much the layoffs impacted employees and their work:
Very much 18%
Somewhat 39%
No impact at all 43%