Top Workplaces deadline extended to April 12

Mark Curtis made sure to enter his business, Splash Car Wash, in the annual Top Workplaces contest of Hearst Connecticut Media Group in the hope of coming out a winner for the fourth year.

Curtis, as CEO of the Greenwich-based chain of 15 Connecticut and three New York car wash locations, knows very well that unemployment in the state and nation is running at 3.8 percent. Transpation: It’s hard to find workers, so any edge matters.

That’s why his company, with nearly 200 employees, is part of the contest, and I can tell you, they have a great time at the awards dinner in September.

You can nominate your employer, your workplace, as well. The original deadline was Friday. We’ve extended it to April 12, but act right now because that’s the week before taxes are due, and you won’t want to forget.

For the 9th year, we’re looking to honor the best places to work — whether they’re privately owned companies, publicly traded corporations, subsidiaries, partnerships, nonprofits or even government agencies.

The contest is open to any employer with 35 or more people in the area covered by Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties.

Recognition is given for small, midsize and large organizations, and the contest also rewards the best executives.

Last year, Hearst Connecticut Media honored 50 employers from across the region, chosen from more than 900 that were nominated. A smaller number actually participated, by letting our partner — Energage, a research and employee engagement company in Pennsylvania — give their employees a 24-question survey.

Nominations are due by March 15, so don’t delay. Anyone can nominate an employer — take the credit or do it anonymously!

“The Top Workplaces program is about more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, founder and CEO of Energage. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottomline results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.”

Recruitment is key for many of the Top Workplaces winners. Connecticut’s economy just hit 4 percent unemployment, which means it’s a market that favors employees. They’re looking for companies with an edge and the Top Workplaces award is part of the package.

Last year’s top winners were Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties in the large employer division, over 500 people in the three counties; Norwalk-based Family & Children’s Agency in the midsize group, with between 150 and 499 employees; and debt-collector Eastern Account System among small employers with 35 to 149 people.

OperationsInc, a Norwalkbased human resources consulting company with nearly 100 employees, has been recognized in the Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces for the last six years. Founder and CEO David Lewis said his company allows employees tremendous flexibility.

“We go to great lengths to work with our people,” Lewis said. “You need to lead by example and do things that are supportive of our employees. Our culture had so many facets to it.”

Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces winners will be featured in the Connecticut Post, The News-Times of Danbury, Greenwich Time, The Stamford Advocate, The Norwalk Hour, New Haven Register and The Register Citizen of Torrington in September — and will be highlighted on all of the associated websites.

Energage , formerly known as WorkplaceDynamics, carries out the Top Workplaces surveys for more than 40 metro newspapers including some of the biggest. Last year, the company surveyed 2.6 million employees at more than 7,500 organizations.

Employers can be nominated online at topworkplaces.com/hearstct or by calling 203-617-0727.