Metro Atlanta employees who responded to Workplace Dynamics’ top workplace survey were shown a list of 20 statements, grouped into six categories. They were asked the importance of each statement while rating their places of work.

The leading category, in a photo finish: direction of the company.

Nearly three of every four respondents (73 percent) indicated that direction was significant in evaluating their employer.

It was a close race. Just behind, at 71 percent each, were two categories — conditions and execution of the business — while career aspects totaled 70 percent

Considerably less crucial, according to results, were managers (58 percent), followed by pay and benefits (49 percent).

The findings helped determine the area’s top workplaces among those partaking in the survey.

The highest response for any statement came from one of three in the “direction” subset: “I believe this company is going in the right direction.” Sixty-eight percent labeled it as important.

Other statements pertaining to direction dealt with confidence in the head of the company — with 64 percent grading it as significant — and the firm operating on strong values and ethics (61 percent.)

One of four statements in the “conditions” bundle triggered the second-highest rate of support. Sixty-seven percent indicated it was important to feel genuinely appreciated by the company.

Respondents also weighed heavily the sense that their job makes them feel a part of something meaningful, at 63 percent.

A lower priority was placed on the level of frustration at the workplace (48 percent) and the flexibility allowed to balance work and personal life (41 percent).

All four statements in the “execution” cluster were given value by more than half of the survey-takers.

Sixty-one percent placed priority on whether senior managers understand goings-on at the company and if tasks are completed efficiently and well.

To what degree new ideas are encouraged, 59 percent gave a thumbs-up to importance, while 54 percent found relevance with rating their companies based on how well-informed they feel about key decisions.

In the “careers” division, two of the three statements resonated with the bulk of participants. Some two-thirds (66 percent) suggested confidence about their future at the company and happiness with career opportunities were of consequence in evaluating the firm.

Vastly lower, at 48 percent, was the availability of formal training.

All four statements regarding managers registered at nearly identical rates. The aggregate score was 58 percent.

Confidence in one’s manager was the highest (54 percent). One percentage point below were whether the manager makes it easier to perform the job well, helps employees learn and grow and listens to them.

Despite challenging economic times in which wages and benefits for many have risen marginally — or, worse, been frozen or cut — respondents assigned relatively little gravity to that area, at just 49 percent overall.

A mere 44 percent declared that fair pay for the work accomplished is important in assessing their company. Even fewer (35 percent) expressed concern on how their benefits package shaped up with others in the same industry.

The results came as no surprise to heads of the top workplaces in their respective classifications.

“Studies repeatedly show that salary and benefits are not the prime motivators in a person’s job satisfaction,” said F. Stuart Gulley, president of Woodward Academy. “Certainly, people don’t go into education thinking they will become wealthy. The reward comes in making a difference in the lives of others, which our employees do here daily.

“What I have heard most from our folks is their appreciation for knowing where Woodward is headed — understanding clearly our mission and vision, which employees had a hand in crafting.”

Tim Hohmann, founder and owner of AutomationDirect, said, “If people do not believe the company is heading in the right direction, they know the company will eventually fail and, therefore, they would not have job security. What good is it to have good wages if you feel you could easily lose your job due to bad business decisions and not be able to provide for your family?”

David Cummings, co-founder and CEO of Pardot, summed it up: “People want to be a part of something special that is larger than just them. A company that is a great place to work and growing fast will have significantly more opportunities for career growth, [solving] interesting problems and [making] new friends.”

A total of 43,675 employees at 188 metro Atlanta companies responded to the surveys. Only companies with a response rate of a minimum 35 percent were counted in the results.

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TOP FIVE FACTORS

After completing the 20-question survey, metro employees were asked to rank the factors that meant the most to them in terms of job satisfaction. The top five were:

1. Company direction

2. Job appreciation

3. Confident of future

4. Career opportunities

5. Confidence in leader