On this dreary Monday morning after losing an hour’s sleep over the weekend, it may be hard to feel excited about going to work anywhere. But it’s a little easier today for the Westchester employees lucky enough to be heading to one of the companies on Fortune Magazine’s just-released 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Google topped the 2016 list for the seventh time in the last 10 years, while Tarrytown-based Regeneron is the sole Westchester-based company to make the list. Several winning firms have locations here in the county, though. (The results are based on a survey by Great Place to Work, which includes questions about pay, benefit programs, hiring practices, training, and overall job satisfaction.)
Regeneron climbed to number 72 from 99 last year; this marks the second year the company has been selected for the list. According to Fortune, rapid growth at the biotech company, including the 2014 launch of the Regeneron Genetics Center and recent establishment of two Irish offices, has created new job opportunities and a lot of interest. According to the Great Place to Work survey, 95 percent of Regeneron employees say they are proud to tell others they work there and 92 percent believe management is honest and ethical in its business practices. The company excels in doling out perks, which include free beverages throughout the day, massage therapy, fitness classes, and subsidized lunch on a daily basis.
Other companies on this year’s list that have a presence here in Westchester include:
#14: The Container Store (White Plains, Yonkers) This retail chain offers higher-than-average pay, and every part-time worker has access to health insurance. Based on employee feedback, the company recently lowered the amount workers have to kick in for co-pays and deductibles.
#26: REI (Yonkers) Last year, REI gave every eligible employee an automatic 5 percent company retirement contribution into their 401(k) and an additional 7 percent profit-sharing contribution.
#47: Hyatt (White Plains, Yonkers) From the CEO on down, everyone at Hyatt is on a first-name basis, and hotels regularly host “Night Owl Breakfasts” when managers serve meals to night-shift workers, share information, and gather feedback.
#56: Hilton (Rye Brook) Starting in 2016, the company is surging ahead of the industry by ramping up paid leave to two weeks for dads and adoptive parents — and giving moms 10 weeks off following childbirth.
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#75: Whole Foods (Port Chester, White Plains, Yonkers) Whole Foods Market strives for an egalitarian culture and caps its executive salaries at no more than 19 times that of the average worker. The company’s unique gain-sharing plan rewards teams for coming under budget. The team’s monthly surplus is distributed among team members—based on number of hours worked—and has averaged about 6 percent of workers’ total wages.
#83 Marriott (New Rochelle, Rye, Tarrytown, West Harrison, White Plains, Yonkers) The hotel chain boasts a strong promote-from-within tradition, and a diverse team with one of the largest groups of minority employees in US business. Nearly a third of US employees have been with the company for more than 10 years, and 12 percent have been here for more than 20.
#92 Nordstrom (White Plains) This family-oriented retailer is now run by three fourth generation Nordstrom brothers — co-presidents Blake, Peter and Erik. Erik, for instance, runs nordstrom.com, and invites each new hire of the online arm into his office for coffee and a get-to-know-you session.
#98 Cheesecake Factory (White Plains, Yonkers) The company has a targeted recruiting program to find kitchen jobs for military veterans. Since the company has a long history of promoting from within, many of these folks may find themselves in top roles: 100 percent of their general managers, executive kitchen managers and area field leaders were hired internally, and started in either hourly jobs or as first-level managers.
To view the full list, visit: http://fortune.com/best-companies/
