Employees make their mark at Cox Enterprises

CEI employee Clarence Jackson works on a volunteer job. CEI gives employees paid time off to perform volunteer work.

CEI employee Clarence Jackson works on a volunteer job. CEI gives employees paid time off to perform volunteer work.

Editor’s note: Cox Enterprises, the parent company of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, earned top ratings in this year’s Top Workplaces survey but is excluded from the official rankings. Although research is conducted by Energage, an independent company, and they surveyed employees in other Cox divisions, Cox is not included in order to avoid any perception of bias by the newspaper. If eligible, Cox would have been ranked in the top 10 large workplaces category, so we are including a profile of the company.

Empowering people today to build a better future for the next generation — these words capture the spirit of Cox Enterprises. A global company headquartered in Atlanta, Cox’s subsidiaries are Cox Communications, and major national brands Autotrader, Kelly Blue Book and Manheim.

“Cox has always been committed to taking care of our employees, serving our customers and improving the quality of life in the communities we serve,” said Jill Campbell, chief people and operations officer at Cox Enterprises.

Cox employees who participated in the Top Workplaces survey were especially positive about the company’s strong core values and its respect for employees’ input and views.

The company recently developed EXLab, which reimagined the employee experience while expanding the company’s benefits, including flexible work schedules, paid time off to volunteer, adoption assistance, pet insurance and wellness programs.

“We believe employee happiness helps to drive our success,” Campbell said.

Cox also has been recognized for fostering an inclusive culture by Diversity Inc., Forbes and the Human Rights Campaign for LGBTQ Equality.

“A core value that our employees also care deeply about is our commitment to take better care of the environment. Cox has set a goal to be ‘zero waste to landfill’ by 2024. We also are focusing growth of our company in the cleantech industry,” Campbell said.

The telecommunications and automotive company has made several investments, including BrightFarms, a sustainable farming company; Sierra Energy, which transforms trash into energy; and Rivian, an electric vehicle company.

Campbell added: “Cox has always cared about doing the right thing. It’s part of who we are, and I think that’s what also makes us an employer of choice.”