Best Places to Work in Maine program now underway

‘    AUGUSTA — The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management has kicked off the ninth annual “Best Places to Work in Maine” program.
    The program, endorsed by Best Companies Group, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, The Maine Department of Labor, The Department of Economic and Community Development, Maine HR Convention and Mainebiz recognizes companies that have established and consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments.

    “For eight years this program has recognized companies in Maine that understand that part of their success is based on the importance placed on recruiting and retaining top talent,” said Deb Whitworth, State Director of the SHRM Maine State Council.
    “This program is only successful because of those companies, and we want to continue to grow the number of businesses that get involved and to educate those who may not have participated in Best Places to Work about the benefits of the program.”
    In June, Best Companies Group will survey all the Maine companies that have registered online by the deadline of May 23.
    The scientifically-validated survey will incorporate a company’s employee benefits and policies and responses from a comprehensive employee engagement and satisfaction survey. The data collected from the assessment will be used to determine the “Best Places to Work” in Maine.
    The Best Companies Group “Employee Feedback Report” is presented to each participating company, even if they did not make the list.
    The report includes the summarized employee engagement and satisfaction data, the Maine Benchmark Report, and the transcript of employee written comments. The report is used by many to make significant improvements in their workplace culture.
    There is a fee to participate in this program that covers the cost to conduct the comprehensive survey and create the “Employee Feedback Report.”
    However, Whitworth emphasized that this is “not a ‘pay-to-play’ program. Companies only make the list if their employee survey ranks high, so it truly is based on what employees think of the company culture.”
    First place winners last year included CIANBRO in the large company category and Putney, Inc., located in Portland, in the small/medium category.
    Any company with at least 15 employees in the state of Maine is encouraged to participate.
    Companies selected as a “Best Place to Work in Maine” will be announced at a gala event in the fall of 2014.
    Interested companies can apply to participate in the program online at www.bestplacestoworkme.com and the deadline for registration is May 23.