IT Shines on FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® List

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IT companies represent the largest segment of the 2012 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list, occupying nearly 20% of the slots including Google, SAS, and NetApp in the top ten. Tech companies continue to raise the standards for great workplaces, with flashy employee benefits like onsite childcare, concierge services, and paid sabbaticals. More importantly, these companies maintain happy, productive employees offering underlying qualities including autonomy, opportunities for creativity, and an ability to impact the direction of the company.

While national unemployment rates remain high, the 17 tech companies on the list boast an average job growth of 15% in 2011 and are struggling to find the talent to fill open positions.  With Silicon Valley booming again and a number of high-tech startups headed for IPO, infant companies will duke it out with well-established tech companies that enjoy global reputations for their workplace culture, and long tenure on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list, when competing for talent. 

Susan Lucas-Conwell, recently named CEO of Great Place to Work® and former CEO of SV Forum, a Silicon Valley incubator for high-tech entrepreneurs, commented: "In order to win the battle for the best and brightest, both startups and established companies will have to take a good hard look at what goes on inside great workplaces, and not just mimic their perks and benefits, but focus on building respect and trustworthiness as well."

In 2011, voluntary turnover in the 17 list-making tech companies averaged a mere 6%, indicating that a great work place culture secures employee retention.  With ample opportunities for training and development, great workplaces balance keeping employees loyal while helping employees develop the skills that will grow the business.

"Job candidates are hip to workplace culture these days.  They know to ask the questions that get at what is really going on inside these companies—how employees are treated as people, how managers behave, what the company truly values.  With so many companies not getting this stuff right, those currently employed are not hopping to greener pastures without first understanding the workplace culture.  Even analysts are starting to look at workplace culture when valuing stocks.  In order to thrive, companies are going to have to get this right," predicts Lucas-Conwell.

To view the full list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, visit http://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-companies/100-best-companies-to-work-for. 

The 17 IT companies appearing on the list are: Google at #1, SAS at #3, NetApp at #6, Intuit at #19, Qualcomm at #23, Ultimate Software at #25, Salesforce.com at #27, Adobe Systems at #41, National Instruments at #45, Intel at #46, World Wide Technology at #50, Autodesk at #52, Rackspsace Hosting at #74, Microsoft at #76, Hitachi Data Systems at #86, Cisco at #90, and GoDaddy.com at #93.

SOURCE Great Place to Work