Kaiser Permanente

Why you want to work there

Top 10 ranking: No. 6 for diversity Through the Innovation Technology Fund at this health maintenance organization in Oakland, Calif., all employees can submit ideas for technology projects that improve quality and service, the affordability of care, and/or the quality of employees' work lives. If the suggestion is accepted, the fund acts as a mechanism to move the idea into actual production. In 2009, 27 projects were seeded through the Innovation Fund, and even more connections were made between employees who discovered that they were working on similar ideas or projects to solve similar problems. Retirement made easy: The company offers a qualified defined benefit pension plan, in addition to two other retirement savings plans. Eligible employees automatically become participants in the pension plan after completing one year of employment, and the company contributes 5% of an employee's salary to the pension plan. Employees are fully vested in the pension plan after five years of service or upon reaching age 65; they can begin to receive benefits as early as age 55 (after 15 years of service) or when their age plus years of service equals at least 75. Recognition awards for exemplary performance and behavior can earn employees (who may receive multiple awards) up to a total of $7,500 annually. In 2009, IT employees had access to 2,000 business and IT e-learning modules in addition to 70-plus instructor-led courses covering business literacy and skills trainings, software and business applications, industry standards, conflict resolution, process, business management, career advancement and more.

Read more about this Best Place to Work.