The Wall Street Journal named 15 employers that have built "exemplary workplaces" to its second annual list of the top small workplaces in America:
These companies tend to offer generous traditional and nontraditional benefits, share profits with employees and constantly hunt for new ways to make the employee experience better.
If you're still skeptical about whether such practices are worth it, look no further than these companies. They're more than great employers; they're also profitable, growing enterprises -- even in this difficult economy. Here's a look at the practices that put them at the top.
The list, which was assembled with input from Evanston non-profit Winning Workplaces, included two Illinois firms: Integrated Project Management Company, in Burr Ridge, and Crystal Lake-based J.A. Frate Inc.
Integrated Project Management Co.BUSINESS: Project management
BASED: Burr Ridge, Ill.
FOUNDED: 1988
EMPLOYEES: 78
2007 REVENUE: $13 millionMany companies give employees feedback once a year in a performance review. At Integrated Project Management Co., feedback is a very frequent -- and highly structured -- process.
Each IPM employee sits down for a weekly one-on-one meeting with his or her manager in which they discuss work progress, the employee's performance and the skills that need improvement. Managers also regularly provide employees with an "event summary" in which they evaluate how an employee handled a specific task such as leading a company meeting and provide concrete steps for improvement.
J.A. Frate Inc.BUSINESS: Regional trucking
BASED: Crystal Lake, Ill.
FOUNDED: 1971
EMPLOYEES: 88
2007 REVENUE: $8.7 millionOur judges liked this company's attitude. Trucking, they say, is a gruff business, where drivers often come and go and don't feel recognized for their effort. J.A. Frate Inc. tries to make sure its most dedicated drivers feel valued and want to stay for the long haul.