Newsletter and Subscription Sign Up
Subscribe

COOL TO BE KIND (in the right measure) The 2013 Best Companies to Work For

Published Tuesday Jan 14, 2014

Author ERIKA COHEN and MATTHEW J. MOWRY

Yes, we know the lyric is actually cruel to be kind, but trust us, there’s nothing cruel about the 10 Best Companies to Work For. They entice employees with a variety of enviable perks, from subsidized childcare to onsite gyms. And they do have one thing in common—they care about their employees and find meaningful ways to demonstrate it.

Being kind and compassionate are at the core of W.S. Badger and CCA Global Partners. CCA is a multi-billion dollar cooperative, helping thousands of small companies to collectively compete with big box retailers. W.S. Badger is a natural and organic body product manufacturer that is one of the few B corporations in the state. B corporations are certified to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Bill Whyte, CEO of W.S. Badger, says having that certification means holding the company to a higher standard. “We never ask if we do this, will it improve our bottom line. We may ask how can we afford this,” he says. Whyte says treating people with respect and kindness, though, are the best perks and cost nothing. “Saying thank you is very powerful,” he says.

At CCA Global, Chairman Howard Brodsky makes a point of saying good morning to every employee in person. When he walks around, he not only knows everyone’s name, he can also tell you a story about him or her. “So much of people’s lives are at work. It should be a rewarding and enjoyable experience,” Brodsky says. “Businesses can be at the forefront of making the world a better place.”

This year’s winners also help their employees in ways that may not be fully realized for years to come. While pensions may be a thing of the past, generous 401(k) matching programs are not, at companies big and small. Why? “It gets to the employee retention and attracting high quality talent,” says Lonza Site Manager Michael Pelletier.

The Competition

Each year, Business NH Magazine partners with the NH Businesses for Social Responsibility and Bruce Mast & Associates, a Portsmouth-based human resources and leadership firm, to seek out NH’s best employers. So how did these 10 make the cut? Businesses statewide submitted applications detailing their benefits, company culture, communication and employee development strategies, mission statement, and letters from employees. A judging panel, made up of Business NH Magazine staff and NH Businesses for Social Responsibility members, determines the 20 semi-finalists—10 large companies (with more than 100 employees) and 10 small companies (less than 100 employees). From there, four outside judges (see page 59) review and score all semi-finalists. At the same time, Bruce Mast & Associates organizes site tours to the 20 semi-finalists for site judges, who are NH executives and HR professionals. The 10 finalists are then selected at a final judges’ meeting.

We thank all the companies that competed. They show that there is no single model for being an employer of choice. Winners will be honored at the annual Breakfast With the Best, where attendees may ask winners about their best practices and challenges. The Breakfast will be held Feb. 14 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester at 7:30 a.m. Please join us to find out what it takes to be a top employer. To register, go to www.eventsNH.com.