It’s time to find our top workplaces

With a regional economy whose major strength is providing hospitality, professional and health-care services to residents and visitors alike, many South Florida companies know how critical it is to keep their workplaces productive and their employees engaged.

For the past four years, many companies that have participated in the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Top Workplaces program have received feedback to help them sharpen employee relations and develop programs to buttress workplace performance — bringing them not only public recognition but also a road map for improvements.

Now, for the fifth consecutive year, the Sun Sentinel has partnered with Energage of Philadelphia to determine the tricounty area’s Top Workplaces based on employee survey feedback. And we need your help.

Through Sept. 21, you can nominate your own workplace or another private- or public-sector organization to participate.

“Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of the employee research and consulting firm Energage, formerly known as WorkplaceDynamics. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results.

“Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.”

Last year, 105 organizations agreed to take the survey. Com-

bined, they employed 18,258 people in South Florida. Of those who received questionnaires, 11,365 employees responded, either on paper or online.

Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for 50 major metropolitan newspapers and surveyed 2.5 million employees at more than 6,000 organizations last year.

For the most recent program, 70 South Florida employers scored well enough to earn recognition as Top Workplaces in three categories: small organizations with fewer than 125 employees in South Florida; midsized businesses with 125 to 399 workers; and large enterprises with more than 400 people on the payroll.

The InterContinental Miami topped the list for large organizations, as employees voiced appreciation for management’s policy of giving work force members “room to grow” professionally at the landmark downtown hotel.

Traveling nurse company RNnetwork of Boca Raton topped the midsized entrants, with survey respondents applauding management for providing special benefits and perks, and creating a culture where people can be their best selves.

The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb in West Palm Beach took the small workplace honors after employees lauded the firm’s policy of strongly supporting what they do and making them feel part of a team.

The firm’s research shows participants have used the surveys to assess their companies’ financial health, take stock of problem areas and attract and retain the best talent. Externally, companies have seen their profiles rise in their communities, with customers and business partners taking notice, according to feedback from participating organizations.

The employee survey gathers responses on 24 factors covering seven areas, including organizational health factors that measure how well employees are working together toward a

common cause:

Alignment: company is headed, Where its values, the cooperation.

Effectiveness: Doing things well; sharing different viewpoints; encouraging new ideas.

Connection: Employees feel appreciated; their work is meaningful.

My manager: Cares about concerns; helps with learning and growing.

In addition, the survey asks employees about other factors:

Employee engagement: Motivation, retention and referral.

Leader: Confidence in company leadership.

The basics: Pay, benefits, flexibility, training, expectations.

Statements relating to “connection” and “alignment” are consistently cited as being most important by employees, according to Energage. Statements about pay and benefits have rated least important for workplace satisfaction.

Employers are ranked among groups of similar size to most accurately compare results. Within those size groupings, companies are ranked, and those that score high enough are recognized as Top Workplaces in their respective size categories.

Energage also determines special award winners based on standout scores in specific areas of the survey.

Any organization with 35 or more employees in South Florida is eligible to participate. They can be public, private, nonprofit, or government organizations.

Participating organizations will be surveyed starting this month. The results will be published by the Sun Sentinel in April 2019.

To nominate a business, go to SunSentinel.com/ nominate or call 954-666-0786.