"The ability to hire, train, and retain highly successful employees, then provide an innovative, world-class compensation and benefits packages is most important." This is how one staff member who participated in the 2006 Best Structural Engineering Firms To Work For Contest’s Employee Satisfaction Survey responded to the question, "What do you feel is the most important attribute that a company must have to be considered one of the best firms to work for?" Another opined, "Ethical and technically competent and proficient management is crucial, yet they also must maintain a comfortable and enjoyable working environment." And yet another answered, "The unwavering confidence to tackle challenging projects and deliver innovative solutions to clients makes the best type of firm to work for."

Although several themes seem consistent from the respondents, simply stated, each of the 1,991 employees who participated in the Employee Satisfaction Survey—which accounts for 50 percent of the firm’s total score in the competition—has a unique idea of what it takes for a firm to be named a Best Firm To Work For. Knowing that this variety exists makes it even more remarkable that 25 firms meet and exceed their employees’ expectations, earning recognition in the Structural Engineer 2006 Best Structural Engineering Firms To Work For Contest.

Since we added employee evaluation to the contest in 2005, we have learned a tremendous amount about employee attitudes. For example, we know that the contest attracts the best-of-the-best, but the fact that a resounding 87 percent responded "yes" to the first question of the survey—"Do you believe that your engineering firm is one of the best to work for?"—is very impressive! Employees at these firms are happy at their jobs for many reasons. To give you an idea of where winning firms are shining, the highest satisfaction levels among all of the participants are in the following areas:
• 95 percent of respondents feel that their firm is ethical in its business practices.
• 94 percent of respondents feel that their company provides high-quality work for clients.
• 92 percent of respondents feel their firm strives to improve.
• 91 percent of respondents feel a sense of pride in working for their company.
• 91 percent of respondents feel positive relationships exist among employees at their company.
• 90 percent of respondents indicated that software used to do their jobs is maintained and upgraded so that they can be most efficient.
• 90 percent of respondents feel that their job is secure without the threat of a downsizing event in the coming year.

Congratulations to the 2006 winners of this years contest—especially the first, second, and third place firms of Walter P Moore, PCS Structural Consultants, and Hinman Consulting Engineers—for mastering the art of creating the best firms that your employees could want to work for. To learn more about the top finishers, review the entire list of winners, and understand the method and process used to evaluate firms for the contest, read "Celebrating excellence" on page 22.