Contest deadline extended through April 12

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

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.

"It certainly is more challenging finding employees," he said.

That’s why his company, with nearly 200 people, is part of the contest — for the edge of being a top-ranked workplace — and I can tell you, they have a fine time at the awards dinner in September.

"It’s great to be recognized by your employees," he said, adding that as a consumer business, "it’s nice to publicize that fact."

You can nominate 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 ninth 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.

"Our research shows organizations that earn the

award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results," said Doug Claffey, founder and CEO of Energage, our research and analysis partner in the program.

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

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.

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 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.