Best Companies Gets Better

One of the most wonderful aspects of my job, having served as editor for the magazine for the past 15 years, is seeing how the Best Companies to Work For competition has had a real effect on the NH business community.

Now entering its 19th year, the competition focuses on company culture and seeks to uncover why people stay at a company. And while we ask about a company’s benefits and programs, we are most inquisitive about the philosophies behind them and the thought that goes into creating remarkable company cultures.

At the annual Breakfast With the Best, where we celebrate the winners of the competition by showcasing their best practices, you can see folks in the audience scribbling copious notes to bring those ideas back to their companies. Sometimes they tell us that although they couldn’t replicate something they heard about, it served as a springboard for a new practice unique to their business and culture.

It’s been fascinating to watch companies who’ve applied over the years and not won (sometimes missing a top slot by a hair) strive to become better. In the end, this competition and event has helped NH companies recruit a better workforce, retain talent and improve the work lives of employees statewide.

The competition has evolved over the years with the help of our partners, NH Businesses for Social Responsibility and Bruce Mast & Associates. Some of the changes have been looking for greater diversity in companies, incorporating on-site visits, and looking for greater employee development and training. Culture is dynamic and we’ve sought to make this competition a reflection of that.

 So this year is no exception; the evolution continues. We have created a streamlined, online employer application that is just as thorough but far easier to complete and we’ve reduced the essay questions to four. We are also giving employees a greater voice. We are adding an employee engagement survey to take the pulse of 50 percent or more of any applicant’s employee base. There is a cost at $750 but, win or lose, every applicant will receive a comprehensive report detailing their level of employee engagement as well as how they rank against other applicants and national benchmarks.

The application and employee survey are now available at EmployeeEngagement.com/BNHBestCompanies and the deadline is May 19. The winning companies and their best practices will be featured in the September issue and the Breakfast With the Best will be held later that month. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Matthew J. Mowry

Editor