Washington Business Journal Names Booz Allen a "Best Place to Work"

At a breakfast event on June 10, 2005, Booz Allen Hamilton and 49 other organizations received the Washington Business Journal's (WBJ) inaugural award as one of the region's best places to work.

The firm was also named one of the "Top 15 Large Companies" with local headquarters. Principal Cindy Ladd accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

Factors for award selection included company culture, employees' relationship with their supervisors, and the company's core values. The consensus among employees as to what they liked most about their jobs included:

• People: Even WBJ's event marketing coordinator Liz Huntley was surprised at how much co-workers—and an environment where people are valued as both business colleagues and individuals—contribute to job satisfaction. "D.C. is a business-driven town," says Huntley, "but most successful companies really care about their employees and their work environment."



• Training and education: Opportunities for professional development and support in earning advanced degrees are greatly valued by employees.



• Management: Managers who trust their staff, allow them the freedom to do their jobs, and hold them accountable for both their accomplishments and shortcomings are held in high esteem. One common complaint attributed to poor management: Co-workers who don't pull their own weight.



• Compensation: Many employees feel that their salary expresses how a company values them. And benefits are often more important than salary: Flex time, telecommuting options, parental leave policies, convenient daycare—even complimentary coffee contribute to employee appreciation about the workplace.

"Providing a flexible work environment that helps employees achieve both their professional and personal aspirations is Booz Allen's greatest strength," says Ladd. "To be measured against other great companies and recognized as one of the best places to work validates what we know to be true.

"As a firm, we take great pride in this recognition, and as an employee, I am personally grateful to work for an organization that is on the leading edge of being the absolute best."

A "Fierce Commitment" to Exceptional Work

Companies were selected from more than 230 nominees, and received an opinion survey to distribute to a portion of their employees. Survey questions addressed employees' opinions about their company, management, co-workers, and jobs.

WBJ summarized survey results of participating Booz Allen employees as follows: "The firm provides more professional resources directly available to their staff than any other firm where I've worked... It provides detailed career development information, including written guidelines for advancement... The firm provides very good classes, courses, and tuition reimbursement for all staff members."

Although they represent a wide range of industries—from restaurants, law, and broadcasting to real estate, health care, and more—the recognized organizations share numerous similarities. There is a strong trust between co-workers; family time is respected; and there is an alignment with personal and company values. When employees were included in decision-making and kept aware of what was going on within the company, turnover was reduced and employees expressed greater satisfaction.

WBJ editor Beth Hunt notes, "[The recognized companies] don't just empower their folks to take ownership and responsibility for making the company a great place to work. They expect it. What they get in return is a workforce that is engaged and fierce in its commitment to excellent work."

"The Best Places honor is a validation of a company's greatness," says Huntley.

WBJ is part of the American City Business Journals, a group of 42 national newspapers.

story posted July 12, 2005