At Washington-based law firm Arnold & Porter LLP, they pay their employees to exercise. At managementconsulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, children of employees are treated to company-led field trips on school holidays. And at Fairfax-based SRA International, an information technology consultant firm, workers are awarded an average of $2,000 for every employee referral.
It’s those perks and more that landed the three Washington-area companies, along with four other local firms, on Fortune magazine’s annual 100 Best Companies to Work For list.
Capital One Financial and MITRE, both in McLean; Arlington-based Stanley, an information technology consulting firm; and Marriott, which has made the list 10 times, were also in the top 100.
The Fortune 100 is chosen based on extensive employee surveys and an audit of each company’s benefits, pay, employee makeup and overall philosophy.
Many of the companies on the list stand out because of their unique employee programs. For example, Arnold & Porter offers the Healthy Incentive Bonus, which pays employees $200 per year for exercising at least three times a week.
But while each of the companies in the Washington region offers unique benefits, most agreed that their Fortune ranking is a result of simply treating employees with respect.
“Our fundamental philosophy is if you treat people respectfully and let them do the work they’re here to do, than they’ll appreciate that,” said Elizabeth Respess, director of human resources for Arnold & Porter. The firm ranked 26 on the list, the highest for any local company. “It’s clear this is a prestigious award and it’s a seal of approval. Certainly applicants have mentioned it. They want to work for a company that values the same things they do.”
Marriott, which ranked 89, also cited caring for their employees as the reason they keep making the list. The company, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in May, is one of only 18 companies that has been on the list every year since its inception in 1998.
“One of the hallmarks has been treat your associates right, and then they’ll treat the guests right and the guests will keep coming back,” said Tom Marder, a Marriott spokesman. “That really captures it in a line.”
Recognition
The following companies with headquarters in the Washington region were on Fortune magazine’s annual “Best Companies to Work For” List:
» Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C., No. 26
» MITRE, McLean, No. 60
» SRA International, Fairfax, No. 61
» Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, No. 63
» Capital One Financial, McLean, No. 84
» Marriott, Washington, No. 89
» Stanley, Arlington, No. 100
