2005 Best Places to Work in IT Employee Scorecard

Computerworld |

Methodology: After company representatives completed the first portion of the 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 20,000 IT employees from the final 100 companies selected responded. What follows is aggregate data from the survey of employees at those 100 winning companies:

It's the People

The majority of IT employees (75%) at this year's Best Places to Work agreed that their company is a great place to work. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they are proud to work at their companies, and an overwhelming majority -- 94% -- said they have a good relationship with their co-workers. Yet almost one in four workers at these companies feel they don't have a well-defined career path. Here are some other findings of note:

My company is a great place to work in IT.

Strongly agree 37%

Agree 38%

Neither agree or disagree 17%

Disagree 6%

Strongly disagree 2%

I am proud to work for my company.

Strongly agree 51%

Agree 34%

Neither agree or disagree 11%

Disagree 3%

Strongly disagree 1%

There are opportunities for career growth.

Strongly agree 29%

Agree 47%

Neither agree or disagree 13%

Disagree 8%

Strongly disagree 3%

I have a well-defined career path.

Strongly agree 13%

Agree 39%

Neither agree or disagree 26%

Disagree 16%

Strongly disagree 6%

I have a good relationship with my co-workers.

Strongly agree 54%

Agree 40%

Neither agree or disagree 4%

Disagree 1%

Strongly disagree 1%

I have access to tools and technologies

I need to do my job.

Strongly agree 30%

Agree 53%

Neither agree or disagree 10%

Disagree 6%

Strongly disagree 1%

I feel my job is secure.

Strongly agree 29%

Agree 39%

Neither agree or disagree 18%

Disagree 10%

Strongly disagree 4%

I am motivated to do my best.

Strongly agree 44%

Agree 38%

Neither agree or disagree 11%

Disagree 5%

Strongly disagree 2%

My job is interesting and challenging.

Strongly agree 35%

Agree 45%

Neither agree or disagree 13%

Disagree 5%

Strongly disagree 2%

This is a team-oriented company/department.

Strongly agree 34%

Agree 43%

Neither agree or disagree 13%

Disagree 7%

Strongly disagree 3%

I have access to training and education

to enhance my skills.

Strongly agree 33%

Agree 44%

Neither agree or disagree 14%

Disagree 7%

Strongly disagree 2%

Our company is run ethically and honestly.

Strongly agree 47%

Agree 36%

Neither agree or disagree 12%

Disagree 3%

Strongly disagree 2%

I have access to new technologies.

Strongly agree 28%

Agree 46%

Neither agree or disagree 16%

Disagree 8%

Strongly disagree 2%

My performance is evaluated

fairly and with adequate frequency.

Strongly agree 28%

Agree 43%

Neither agree or disagree 16%

Disagree 9%

Strongly disagree 4%

I have a good relationship with my supervisor.

Strongly agree 46%

Agree 40%

Neither agree or disagree 9%

Disagree 3%

Strongly disagree 2%

I have the opportunity to get Involved

with interesting projects.

Strongly agree 34%

Agree 42%

Neither agree or disagree 15%

Disagree 7%

Strongly disagree 2%

Employee Satisfaction

By the Numbers


More bonuses and less stress are needed, but the majority are satisfied
78%		Rate employee morale at their companies as excellent, very good or good
73%		Are very satisfied or satisfied with their company's training and development programs
72%		Are very satisfied or satisfied with their health benefits
71%		Are very satisfied or satisfied with their base salaries
71%		Are very satisfied or satisfied with their work/life balance
57%		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 23%

Satisfied 48%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 14%

Dissatisfied 11%

Very dissatisfied 4%

Bonuses

Very satisfied 26%

Satisfied 31%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 14%

Dissatisfied 11%

Very dissatisfied 7%

Not applicable 11%

Health benefits

Very satisfied 29%

Satisfied 43%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 14%

Dissatisfied 10%

Very dissatisfied 4%

Work/life balance

Very satisfied 27%

Satisfied 44%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 15%

Dissatisfied 10%

Very dissatisfied 4%

Training and development

Very satisfied 31%

Satisfied 42%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 15%

Dissatisfied 10%

Very dissatisfied 2%

Morale is good, but stress levels aren't:

IT Department Morale

Excellent 17%

Very good 34%

Good 27%

Fair 15%

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):

Benefits

Percentage who gave the benefit a "10"

Paid vacation: 76%

Health insurance: 69%

Profit sharing/employee stock ownership program/401(k)/403(b) plan: 49%

Flexible hours: 41%

Telecommuting: 35%

Bonuses: 34%

Reimbursement for technology certifications: 33%

Continuing education/executive programs: 31%

College tuition reimbursement: 27%

Paternity/maternity leave: 26%

Overtime pay/comp time for overtime hours worked: 25%

Domestic partner/spousal equivalent/same-sex partner benefits: 18%

Employee assistance programs: 17%

Paid or unpaid sabbaticals: 15%

On-site fitness center or fitness membership reimbursement: 15%

On-site child care: 10%

Job sharing: 9%

Elder care and/or services: 6%

Layoffs

Among respondents who indicated that their company's IT department had layoffs in 2004, the following grades were given for how management handled those layoffs:

12%	22%	23%	12%	8%

Not answered: 13%

How Management Fared

Most IT workers at the Best Places to Work said they're getting equal treatment by managers, regardless of race, religion or other factors, and 66% said they have a reasonable workload. And most are happy with IT management's leadership ability. Yet only 60% said IT management is involved and interested in their career development, and just over half (51%) said IT management involves them in decisions that affect their jobs.

Management treats everyone fairly and equally, regardless of...

Sexual Orientation

Strongly agree 44%

Agree 40%

Neither agree or disagree 13%

Disagree 2%

Strongly disagree 1%

Race

Strongly agree 47%

Agree 39%

Neither agree or disagree 10%

Disagree 3%

Strongly disagree 1%

Gender

Strongly agree 44%

Agree 39%

Neither agree or disagree 11%

Disagree 4%

Strongly disagree 2%

Title or Job Function

Strongly agree 32%

Agree 41%

Neither agree or disagree 13%

Disagree 11%

Strongly disagree 3%

Religion

Strongly agree 47%

Agree 40%

Neither agree or disagree 11%

Disagree 1%

Strongly disagree 1%

Age

Strongly agree 41%

Agree 40%

Neither agree or disagree 12%

Disagree 5%

Strongly disagree 2%

Career Development

IT management is involved and interested in my career development.

Strongly agree 19%

Agree 41%

Neither agree or disagree 23%

Disagree 12%

Strongly disagree 5%

Recognition

Management recognizes achievements and good work.

Strongly agree 26%

Agree 43%

Neither agree or disagree 18%

Disagree 9%

Strongly disagree 4%

Corporate Culture

My company's corporate culture is positive.

Strongly agree 32%

Agree 43%

Neither agree or disagree 15%

Disagree 7%

Strongly disagree 3%

My workload is reasonable.

Strongly agree 15%

Agree 51%

Neither agree or disagree 18%

Disagree 12%

Strongly disagree 4%

IT Staff Involvement.

IT management involves the IT staff in decisions that affect their jobs.

Strongly agree 15%

Agree 36%

Neither agree or disagree 26%

Disagree 16%

Strongly disagree 7%

Effective Leadership.

IT management effectively leads the department.

Strongly agree 23%

Agree 42%

Neither agree or disagree 19%

Disagree 11%

Strongly disagree 5%

Employee Participation

I feel I have a hand in running my company.

Strongly agree 14%

Agree 29%

Neither agree or disagree 29%

Disagree 19%

Strongly disagree 9%

Clearly Defined Mission.

My company/department has a clearly defined mission.

Strongly agree 28%

Agree 46%

Neither agree or disagree 16%

Disagree 7%

Strongly disagree 3%

Historical Perspective

After a dip in 2004, satisfaction in many areas returned to 2003 levels, based on employee responses from the annual Best Places survey. Fewer layoffs could be a factor here: The percentage of Best Places that laid off IT employees in the previous year dropped, from 46% in the 2004 survey to 43% in the 2005 survey. Some other figures of note:

Employees have reported...

There is good-to-excellent morale

2003 79%