Walker Sands, an integrated public relations and digital marketing firm for B2B technology companies, has been named one of Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces for 2017, the publication’s second annual ranking in the fast-growing private company sector.
Hitting newsstands today in the June 2017 issue, and as part of a prominent Inc.com feature, the list is the result of a wide-ranging and comprehensive measurement of private American companies who have created exceptional workplaces through vibrant cultures, deep employee engagement, and stellar benefits. Out of thousands of applicants, Inc. singled out just over 200 winning companies.
Built in partnership with employee engagement and work culture experts Quantum Workplace of Omaha, Nebraska, Inc.’s Best Workplaces list is a magnifying glass on how innovative companies can truly raise the bar in hiring and retaining the best talent.
When surveyed by Inc. magazine, the top word used by Walker Sands employees to describe the company’s work environment was, “supportive.” Ninety-five percent of Walker Sands employees agree that the organization’s senior leaders value people as their most important resource.
What does it take to become a company that workers want to be part of? Inc. magazine says it’s more than good pay and good perks – it’s also about having a clear purpose, a sense of humor, and leadership that makes the two work together.
“This recognition from Inc. shows our company core values of, ‘Learn, Support and Do,’ are present in every facet of our work,” said Mike Santoro, president of Walker Sands. “Maintaining a strong culture in a growing agency isn’t easy and I’m so proud of how much we’ve accomplished together as an organization, keeping true to our roots. As our business scales, it has remained our utmost priority to maintain our supportive company culture and scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit that we have since we launched this business in 2001.”
The 2017 Inc. Best Workplaces Awards assessed applicants on the basis of benefits offered and employees’ responses to a unique, 30-question survey fielded by each of the applying companies. Responses were evaluated by the research team at Quantum Workplace. For its results to qualify, each company had to achieve a statistically significant response rate based on employee count. Survey scores account for employer size to level the playing field between small and large businesses. All companies had to have minimum of 10 employees and to be U.S.-based, privately held, and independent – that is, not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies.
While researching the entries, Inc. and Quantum saw distinct themes develop:
Strong company cultures breed stunning individual and team performance.
Workers at the best companies don’t view their employers as sugar daddies. They aren’t mesmerized by whatever giveaways seem to be the latest fad—be it gourmet lunches or beer fridges.
When employees feel valued by their organization, they are far more likely to be engaged. This single factor proved to be one of the largest drivers of employee engagement.
Supporting professional development and career growth opportunities for every individual ensures employees stay motivated and inspired by their work. This includes fostering a culture that works for all employees.
“By introducing an employee survey into this year’s Best Workplaces selection process, we’ve really raised the bar,” state the editors at Inc. magazine. “Companies that don’t score at the very top of their peer group don’t make the cut. So, our hats are off to the winners. They all excelled at engaging their workers, making them feel appreciated, and aligning them behind a mission. And remember, that’s not just our opinion: The employees told us that themselves.”
To learn more about Walker Sands’ unique company culture and why you should join its team, visit: http://careers.walkersands.com/working-at-walker-sands
