1. Woodward Academy
The private school is once again Atlanta's top-ranked large company. It has been ranked first or second every year since The AJC's Top Workplaces began. Read more about why Woodward Academy took top honors here.
2. Arrow Exterminators
Arrow Exterminators, which has been family owned and operated since 1964, is in the top five for the second year in a row. CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick also is a winner of the 2019 Top Workplaces Leadership special award. The pest and termite control company has grown to 2,149 U.S. employees; and of those, 816 are based in metro Atlanta’s 49 locations. The company’s global revenue has increased to $203 million annually. Awards, recognition and incentive programs celebrate the hard work of its employees. Arrow offers professional and career development training and promotes from within, which employees say provide opportunity and growth. Arrow uses its “beyond the call” mantra to describe its benefits suite, which includes competitive compensation, company vehicles for service and sales professionals, professional development training and a 401(k) with company matching. Employees appreciate the company’s family-oriented nature and opportunities to participate in activities such as the March of Dimes March for Babies.
3. Alston & Bird LLP
The 2018 Top Workplaces winner has been ranked in the top five for nine consecutive years. The national law firm, founded in 1893, has 1,890 global employees and 751 in its two metro Atlanta locations. It’s the winner of the 2019 Top Workplaces Doers award because of the responses to this statement, “At this company, we do things efficiently and well.” Employees rave about the collegial work environment with opportunities that make their work meaningful. When employees face hardship, colleagues can donate paid time off through its catastrophic leave policy. Benefits are focused on meeting the needs of its multigenerational workforce. Alston & Bird offers three months paid parental leave, three weeks paid paternity leave, $10,000 for adoptions and surrogacy, $25,000 for fertility treatments, onsite childcare and in-home backup child care. Job sharing, telecommuting, flexible hours, a concierge and errand running service are offered along with wellness perks, such as onsite massages and Weight Watchers at Work.
4. Preferred Apartment Communities
Preferred Apartment Communities has been on the list for the second consecutive year and moved into the large workplaces category this year. The public real estate investment and property management company has 600 employees, most of whom are in metro Atlanta, its headquarters. Preferred Apartment Communities, which was founded in 2011, says it focuses on four simple principles: hire well, train well, recognize and reward. Employees say they feel empowered to be their best and have trust in their co-workers and leaders. To maintain an environment with open, honest communication, the company offers a hotline in which its associates can anonymously report violations of the company’s code of conduct policies and ethical standards.
5. Salesforce
Salesforce, the 2016 top large company, has been on the list for five consecutive years. Founded in 1999, the San Francisco-based computer software company has 32,000 employees globally, including 643 in its two metro Atlanta locations. Salesforce has more than $10 billion in annual revenue and works with more than 150,000 companies. Salesforce’s focus on the whole “Ohana” (Hawaiian for “family”) is seen in events, such as supporting #EqualityForAll in the Atlanta Pride Parade, and a picnic and field day for employees and families. Metro Atlanta employees have spent more than 14,000 hours volunteering in the past year. Employees receive seven days of paid time off every year, and its top 100 volunteers are granted $10,000 to donate to a nonprofit. New initiatives include Salesforce Camp Pono — inspired by “pono,” which in Hawaiian culture means a state of balance and harmony — that includes a website for 24/7 access to well-being resources and programs.
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