Great Place to Work^® Awards

This year at the Great Place to Work^® Conference, the Institute is pleased to present awards to executives from five outstanding companies in recognition of the great workplace environments they have created: Qualcomm, Lincoln Plating, Arnold & Porter, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and David Weekley Homes. These companies are being recognized not only for their unique collection of best practices focused on one of the five dimensions of the Great Place to Work^® Model^©, but also for their commitment to successfully integrating these practices into their workplace cultures.  Leaders and employees at each of these five companies understand that it’s not simply what you do – but how you do it.

Awards will be presented during the Great Place to Work^® Awards Ceremony and Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, April 19 at 12:25 PM.  In addition, Best Practice Breakout sessions offered throughout the conference will allow you to connect directly with representatives from each of these companies.  You will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how these high-impact programs and practices were selected and developed, and discuss how to apply these concepts within your own organization.

2007 Great Place to Work^® Award Winners

	Credibility An employee's perceptions of management's communication practices, competence and integrity. QUALCOMM At QUALCOMM, "Innovation" tops the list of company values and is fully integrated into everything they do. Short stories, recruiting messages, an internal innovation network for sharing ideas, and messages from CEO Paul Jacobs are all used to spread the word about the importance of innovation. The effectiveness of these two-way communication practices allows QUALCOMM employees to understand how innovation impacts both the success of the business and their own professional growth and development within the company.
	Respect The support, collaboration and caring employees see expressed by management's actions toward them. Lincoln Plating Lincoln Plating is being recognized for its culture of caring. This is best exemplified in its commitment to and successful implementation of employee wellness and safety programs. Setting personal goals with the full-time Wellness Manager is just one reason employees know the company is committed to their health and well-being.
	Fairness The equity, impartiality and justice employees perceive in the workplace. Arnold & Porter Arnold & Porter is being recognized for its inclusive and comprehensive diversity initiatives. A mandatory diversity training is provided annually in all offices, for all employees. This training program has successfully increased employees' sensitivity to and awareness of diversity issues, and has become an integral part of the firm's culture.
	Pride The feelings employees have toward their jobs, team or work group and the company. Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) REI is being recognized for its employee-initiated philanthropic efforts focused on "greening" both the business and the communities in which people work. Their history of environmental stewardship - which dates back to 1976 - lies at the core of REI's unique culture.
	Camaraderie The quality of the hospitality, intimacy and community within the workplace. David Weekley Homes "When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome" is an understatement at David Weekley Homes. From day one, new Team Members are welcomed into the family-like work environment and are made to feel part of the larger team. Standing ovations, building a house made of LEGOS, and a team dinner are just a few examples of what employees experience during the New Team Member Orientation called "Weekley 101."

A great place to work^® is one in which you "trust the people you work for, have pride in what you do, and enjoy the people you work with."

The annual Great Place to Work^® Awards are a distinctive way Great Place to Work^® Institute (GPTW) recognizes the accomplishments of organizations that have implemented creative and effective approaches to developing trust, pride, and camaraderie within their unique workplaces. Each year, five "Best Companies" are honored for exemplary best practices focused on one of the five dimensions of the Great Place to Work^® Model^©: Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie."