Fortune's 100 Best Companies - Myth or Reality?
NetApp, Edward Jones, Boston Consulting Group and Google top Fortune's list of the 100 best companies to work for, which the magazine just updated for 2009. You can sort the list for best work-life balance, child care, pay and other perks or attributes. You can also look at which companies have over 350 job openings right now.
Do you work for one of the top companies? Please write in and tell me what the reality is. So often, your immediate supervisor or management group has more to do with your job satisfaction than whether the overall corporation supports family-friendly policies.
Indeed, the juiciest reading in this Fortune feature comes in the comments from people who actually work at one of the companies. They range from excitement and pride that their employer made the list to disgust that the reality is so different from the posted policies. A common refrain is that telecommuting is only allowed case-by-case or if you're a favored employee.
This drives home the importance of doing your homework when considering a new job. While it might not be smart to ask the hiring manager about work-life balance or the corporate culture for working moms, you definitely should network your way to employees who can give you the real scoop.
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Comments
I work for #1 as defined (NetApp) and glad to see that values and culture have won over ‘free massages and free cafeteria food’.
I have nothing against companies which offer these perks, infact they’re great to have! But when the going gets tough you find yourself in a situation where what is more important to you? Getting something for nothing? Or being excited about the type of work you do every day while equally having a vested stake in not only your company but your peers as well.
I did a little test when I started here, which could be read as the ‘bastard’ test. It’s real simple. You go through your regular work, activities, life, etc. And you see if you come across others who are self-serving, throw you under a bus, treat you like garbage bastards. To tell you the truth, I’ve not met anyone who has met that criteria yet, and I’ve met a lot of people!
When you work somewhere 8+ hrs a day, that’s a third of your life. You want to enjoy that experience but these people are also your family. (Some people will spend more time with their work family than their home family) so making sure you have that balance, that satisfaction is hands down a requirement.
So, would you rather have free food, or job+life satisfaction?
This is a great question. I look forward to hearing others’ input. I have never worked at any of these companies, so I can’t personally say.
But I have relatives who have and they tell stories of the myth of paternity leave (if you take it your career is over) and being fired for having a third child.
Yes, fired. The company never really denied that was the reason for firing a woman who for more than 10 years had had only excellent performance reviews. They just settled out of court with a gag order on her, of course.
So I have always been skeptical of those lists.