Nominate companies to be recognized as Houston’s best

In a tight labor market, do you know of a company that stands out for creating a culture of happy employees? They’re doing something right, and we want to know about it.

The Houston Chronicle is accepting nominations for its 14th annual Top Workplaces awards program. Anyone can make a nomination by visiting chron.com/nominate. The phone number for nominations is 713-429-0375.

Any organization, whether a private or public company, a school, a hospital or a nonprofit group, is eligible to participate as long as it has 50 or more employees.

Energage, the Chronicle’s research partner on the project, will survey employees to determine the winners. The surveys, to be conducted from April through July, consist of 24 questions to gauge how people feel about their workplaces. Participation is free.

Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for newspapers and media organizations in more than 60 markets. The company surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in 2022. That included surveying more than 120,000 employees at nearly 300 companies and organizations in the Greater Houston region.

Last year, the Chronicle recognized 200 winners across the large, midsize and small categories. Employees praised their companies for work-life balance, great bosses who know how to motivate and reward the staff, top notch benefits and more.

“Each day is something new, and I feel like I’m always growing in my career,” commented one employee at LJA Engineering, last year’s top company in the large category. LJA is a Houston-based multi-disciplinary consulting firm with more than 650 local employees.

CB&A Realtors, a real estate brokerage with close to 500 agents and employees across Houston, took the No. 1 spot among midsize companies. Employees praised the company’s management style.

“I’m allowed to do my best work without interruption and can focus on what’s important to me and my clients,” said one. “Management is forward-thinking, innovative when it helps our careers and supportive when help is needed.”

Better World Properties, the top company in the small category with 75 employees in Houston, was recognized with a special award for standout scores for showing employees they’re appreciated.

“The company is family oriented; they offer employee engagement and opportunities for advancement,” commented one employee. “The company is very inspiring, and I feel compelled to work hard.”

We’ll reveal the winners this fall.