Results from surveys of the final 100 companies selected.
In January 2004, companies nominated for Computerworld's Best Places to Work for IT professionals received a 100-question survey asking about their organizations' average salary and bonus increases, percentage of IT staff promoted, IT staff turnover rates, training and development, and the percentages of women and minorities in IT staff and management positions. In addition, information was collected on each organization's method of rewarding outstanding performance, its retention programs and its benefits, ranging from child and elder care to flextime and reimbursement for college tuition and technology certifications. Here's a look at the aggregate data from those 100 winning companies:
The Typical Best Place, by the Numbers
Revenue: $13.3 billion
In business for 73 years
47,067 total employees
1,380 IT employees
33% of IT staff members are women
32% of IT managers are women
23% of IT staff members are minorities
14% of IT managers are minorities
IT budget: $301 million
Spends $1,825 per IT employee on training
Offers seven training days for IT staff
Average workweek: 43 hours
More Statistics of Note
37%
Have merged with or acquired companies or divested business units since Jan. 1, 2003
100%
Have budgeted for salary increases for IT employees in 2004
94%
Have budgeted for bonuses for IT employees in 2004
6%
IT staff turnover for the latest fiscal year, on average
11%
IT staff promoted in the latest fiscal year, on average
49%
Said their training budgets per IT employee will increase in 2004 compared with 2003
88%
Were profitable in 2003
46%
Had layoffs in 2003
Where Are They?
What They Do
The Tops
The top 10 lists below show the very best of the best -- the companies that excel in five areas of employment: diversity, training, career development, retention and benefits.
To determine the top 10 lists, we used the following factors:
Diversity -- Percentage of women and minorities in staff and managerial positions Training -- Average number of training days and average cost of training per IT worker per year Career development -- Mentoring programs and tuition reimbursement for college classes and technical certifications Retention -- Frequency of employee-satisfaction surveys, turnover rate, promotions and corporate communications initiatives Benefits -- A range of benefits, including sabbaticals, health vision benefits (percentage paid for by company) and long-term care
For Diversity
1.
Freddie Mac
2.
University of Miami
3.
Assurant Solutions
4.
BellSouth Corp.
5.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
6.
Fannie Mae
7.
Network Appliance Inc.
8.
Allstate Insurance Co.
9.
Southern California Edison Co.
10.
MasterCard International Inc.
For Career Development
1.
Cerner Corp.
2.
Corning Inc.
3.
American Fidelity Corp.
4.
University of Miami
5.
JB Hunt Transport Services Corp.
6.
Philip Morris USA Inc.
7.
General Mills Inc.
8.
AFLAC Inc.
9.
Huntington National Bank
10.
Network Appliance Inc.
For Benefits
1.
SAS Institute Inc.
2.
USAA
3.
Verizon Wireless
4.
Qualcomm Inc.
5.
General Mills Inc.
6.
Network Appliance inc.
7.
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
8.
NRECA
9.
Fannie Mae
10.
Intuit Inc.
For Training
1.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
2.
University of Miami
3.
Network Appliance Inc.
4.
Household International Inc.
5.
Vision Service Plan
6.
National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association (NRECA)
7.
Forsythe Technology Inc.
8.
Verizon Wireless
9.
Cerner Corp.
10.
McKesson Information Solutions LLC
For Retention
1.
American Fidelity Corp.
2.
University of Miami
3.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
4.
NRECA
5.
Huntington National Bank
6.
Network Appliance Inc.
7.
Universal Health Services Inc.
8.
Saint Luke's Health System Inc.
9.
Forsythe Technology Inc.
10.
Sentara Healthcare
Top Five Benefits Offered (highest percentages of companies that offer)
100%
Paid vacation
99%
Flexible hours
99%
Health Insurance
96%
Pretax programs for uncovered medical expenses
95%
College tuition reimbursement
Bottom Five Benefits Offered (lowest percentages of companies that offer)
26%
On-site concierge
24%
Company-subsidized child care
24%
Paternity leave (beyond the Family and Medical Leave Act)
20%
Backup child care
11%
Paid Sabbaticals
Retention
The option of working flexible hours has growing appeal for IT workers. Among the retention methods used by this year's Best Places to Work in IT, a flexible work schedule has edged up from the No. 3 retention method in 2003 to the No. 2 method in 2004. But money still talks, year over year. Competitive salaries and benefits, plus bonuses and tuition reimbursement, are much prized by IT workers and provided by top-notch IT employers. Other perks like on-site gyms and cafeterias also help make for a satisfied IT workforce. How do these employers know what to offer? The majority check in with their IT employees at least once a year through job satisfaction surveys.
Top-notch Perks
SAS AB
This privately held software maker's on-site fitness center has 22 full-time staffers and a 17,000-square-foot natatorium with a 10-lane pool.
General Mills
A three-story employee services building of this Minneapolis-based company is filled with amenities such as a hair salon, a company store, an expanded fitness center, a credit union and medical/travel services.
Computer Associates International Inc.
On-site amenities at company headquarters in Islandia, N.Y., include dry-cleaning drop-off, video rental, package handling and car maintenance. Also offered are on-site day-care facilities and a children's summer camp.
PNC Bank NA
Employees at this Pittsburgh-based company are offered paid time off (up to 40 hours per year) for volunteer work in the community.
Assurant Solutions
This company's Miami office works with the Dade County, Fla., school system to jointly operate a school for grades 1 to 6, open to all Assurant Miami employees.
