The Top Seven Companies to Work for in Seattle

The best companies to work for in the Seattle area are household names by most. The Northwest lifestyle creates a healthy work-life balance with all of these companies. Here are seven of the best to work for in Seattle.

Google is not only the best company to work for in Seattle, Google is the number one company to work for in America according to Fortune magazine and not just because they have created more millionaires than any other company in history. There are many great reasons to work for Google including Google's outlook on innovation. Employees are encouraged to create new ideas. Every employee is allotted a 20 percent time initiative, meaning that everyone is allowed one day a week to work on a project of their own. Don't think you need to be a computer software genius to work for Google either, right now Google is looking for an Animal Health Expert and a Director of Green Business Strategies.

Starbucks is another top American company to work for. Number seven in the U.S. according to Fortune magazine. Any company whose mission statement includes "provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity" must be a company that prides itself on taking care of their employees. With one of the best benefit packages out there, including education and training benefits, Starbucks is top notch as an employer.

Adobe Systems is another "open to innovation and ideas" company. With the most common salaried job (Computer Scientist) earning over $130,000 a year (Fortune, 2008), paid sabbaticals and an onsite fitness center, and an employee council, Adobe is taking care of its employees.

Recreational Equipment Inc. I can't think of a more fun place to work! REI has profit sharing and an incentive plan based on individual and company goals. They offer an all enclusive benefits package including tuition reimbursement, paid sabbaticals and a personal challenge grant. "Employees have received funds for a variety of challenges, from a 50-mile bike ride to a Mt. Everest expedition" (REI, 2008).

David Evans and Associates, headquartered in Portland, OR with an office in Bellevue, WA, is a company that gives its employees the freedom to use their own strategies and styles to work. A civil engineer from the company stated and is quoted on their website, "The bottom line is we work hard but we manage our own time. That's another great aspect of DEA. There's no micromanagement" (DEA, 2008).

PCL Construction Enterprises is 100% employee owned. Their annual revenue is over $5 billion, making many of the employee benefit checks last year more than their annual salaries (PCL, 2008). Their most common hourly employee earns over $70,000 per year. A higher than average salary or pay-scale and the profit sharing are this company's premier attributes for being a great place to work.

No list of Seattle's best places to work would be complete without including Microsoft. One of Seattle's largest employers, Microsoft's employee benefits boasts some of the best training available, using up 3% of Microsoft's budget (Fortune, 2008). Microsoft describes their business community as a "campus" where everyone is always learning. The campus also includes 25 cafeterias, basketball courts, running paths and more. There are also billions of dollars spend in research and development including a state-of-the-art resource center. (Microsoft, 2008).

Living and working in the Northwest is a blessing to most. Innovation, creativity and work-life balance are important to all of these companies. These are companies that realize the employees are what make the company successful.

Resources:

DEA (2008)
Fortune Magazine
Microsoft Careers
PCL Careers
REI Jobs
Starbucks