Great Places to Work

With the economy in recession, the job market can be a scary place, but that doesn’t mean your dream job doesn’t exist. What follows is a list of companies that have kept their footing, that have kept employees motivated with perks galore, or that have kept growing in industries that are projected to keep growing. If you’re ready to make a move, read on.

by Erica Florentine, Pat Maguire and Amy Prazniak Published October 14, 2009 at 02:39 PM

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Zieta Technology

Zieta Technology says it is “committed to providing employees with more than a salary. “The Wilmington-based IT services and products company strives to “create an environment that builds careers and enriches lives.” For company president and cofounder Shivaji Singh, the philosophy is simply smart business.

“If you want to retain and get the top talents of the industry, salary alone is not going to be efficient,” he says. Zieta offers an independent work environment, 401(k) plans and full medical insurance, including dental and vision. Top-of-the-line life insurance and disabilities coverage is in the works. Employees work on projects for companies such as IBM, DuPont, and Rohm and Haas.

“Our benefits are far superior and comparable to some of the best in the industry,” says Singh. “And, we provide employees with independence, which is most important to retain those talents.”

Independent, happy employees gained the company $5.1 million in revenue and drove 445 percent growth in 2008. Zieta has been known to deliver flowers to employees on birthdays and holidays as well. It’s no wonder.

Verizon

FiOS is great for more than television picture quality and Internet access speed. It means growth, which is good for workers. Odesa Stapleton asks why, in this day and age, a person wouldn’t want to work for a company that is so tech savvy.

The communications enterprise has room for new employees—and not all jobs require a college degree. The company is more than ready to help those who want to earn a degree through a generous tuition reimbursement plan. “Verizon has a commitment to diversity and social responsibility, and we have super customer service. It’s reasons like these why I love working here,” says Stapleton, director of talent management.

While other businesses are cutting benefits, Verizon’s 401(k) is holding strong, as is coverage for health, dental and vision. Other perks include flexible scheduling, adoption assistance and training. Verizon offers opportunities in marketing, engineering, information technology, sales and other areas. It also offers internships and co-ops for students. Beyond graduation, they’ll find a variety of entry-level jobs.

Accenture

Accenture’s reach spans 100 countries, and it employs more than 184,000 people, so it remains proactive about training and strengthening the competencies of its employees, especially as a way of navigating the economic downturn. The global management, technology services and outsourcing company has been recognized for its support base for women, making the 2008 list of the 100 best companies for working moms in Working Mother Magazine. Accenture was included in large part due to its flexible scheduling, which offers three-day weekends in exchange for longer work hours on weekdays. Accenture programs support top senior female executives, allow new moms to add months to their 16-week maternity leave, and provide job stability for women who need to take time off. It is possible to take a leave of up to two years. Everyone benefits from customized insurance coverage, employee stock purchase programs, transportation incentives and more.

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