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Best Colorado Companies to Work For 2016: Large
These big Colorado companies offer great perks
Gigi Sukin //November 4, 2016//
Best Colorado Companies to Work For 2016: Large
These big Colorado companies offer great perks
Gigi Sukin //November 4, 2016//
Here are the 2016 Best Companies to Work for in Colorado, "Large Companies" category:
1. Edward Jones
COMPENSATION | CONTINUED LEARNING
HQ: St. Louis; Aurora location
Edward Jones is a financial services firm that serves investment clients in the U.S. and Canada through its branch network of more than 12,000 locations, current total of more than 7 million clients, and $900 billion assets under management worldwide. The firm focuses specifically on individual investors and small-business owners.
EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:
The most distinctive benefit at Edward Jones is its limited partnership. Any associate in good standing with a minimum of three years of service can buy shares of the firm through limited partnership. This leaves Edward Jones as one of the last remaining partnerships among major financial firms in the country, today owned by 20,000 limited partner associates.
“One of our biggest perks is that our company was designed in a way that allows us to work together to serve our clients. The limited partnership effectively allows us to share the company with our associates … after being with the company for three years … and that has created a culture of teamwork that allows us to focus as a team for our clients to reach long-term goals. With that, our employees think like owners, act like owners and help others on the team do the same."
– Patrick Pogue, financial adviser at Edward Jones, Aurora
2. KPMG LLP
WELLNESS
HQ: Amstelveen, Netherlands; Denver locations
KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory firm, is a global network operating in more than 155 countries and with more than 162,000 people working in member firms around the world. KPMG delivers a globally consistent set of multidisciplinary services based on deep industry knowledge.
EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:
KPMG’s Wellness Committee, a recent Employer of Choice initiative, kicked off with an office health fair. Employees met with dental, health, chiropractic, nutrition and acupuncture representatives, as well as B-cycle, OrangeTheory Fitness, Sprouts, Denver Parks and Recreation, and to top it all off, received a free chair massage. The Denver office now has walking maps for lunchtime fitness goals and to encourage walking meetings. Fresh fruit is provided in the common areas, and the committee also commissioned a delivery service to bring in healthy lunch options. Employees also have access to several fitness clubs at negotiated discount rates. The office sponsors employee sports teams, including volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, kickball, slosh ball, K-Run (running club), K-Climb (climbing club), and K-Tough (Tough Mudder). In May 2016, K-Run sponsored 95 KPMG runners in the Colfax Marathon and relay.
3. Progressive Group of Insurance Companies (New to the list)
CONTINUED LEARNING | GIVE-BACK | DIVERSITY
HQ: Mayfield, Ohio; Multiple Colorado locations
The fourth largest insurer in the country, Progressive Group of Insurance Companies was founded in 1937 and provides shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, such as the Name your Price tool or Snapshot Discounts, and a concierge level of claims services, easing the process of purchasing and using auto insurance. Progressive offers plans for personal and commercial autos, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles and homes.
EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:
• Progressive hosts an annual “Take your Daughter to IT Day” to encourage school-age girls of company employees to observe real-world STEM career opportunities, create an Android game app, learn about network routing, take apart and rebuild a laptop. The company takes it a step further and sends Progressive employees into classrooms throughout the academic year to teach students STEM principles. During the 2014-15 school year, the group taught a total of 2,107 Colorado students in 71 classes, and participated in four STEM education nights; in 2015-16, Progressive moved its tech-ed programming into alternative schools and rural environments.
• On Veteran’s Day – October 2015 – Progressive donated more than 130 cars nationwide to needy veteran families. On that day, a group of Progressive employees convened at the service center in north Denver to present refurbished cars to two veteran families.
4. Elevations Credit Union
WELLNESS | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | GIVE-BACK
HQ: Boulder
Elevations Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution serving the Front Range. Founded in 1953, the organization has grown from 12 members and less than $100 in assets to a 115,000-member group, managing more than $1.6 billion in assets – today, considered the No. 1 credit union mortgage lender in the state. The spirit of cooperation has developed into a culture of belonging, evident in the way Elevations’ people participate in the global credit union movement and take leadership roles in local communities. Shifting away from a product-centered business model, the Boulder-based credit union focuses instead on creating consumer-centric solutions. Employing roughly 400 people, Elevations was honored to be the first credit union to receive the only presidential honor for performance excellence in 2014 and 2015 – the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.
EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:
• Monthly summer cookouts
• Anniversary breakfasts
• Four weeks of paid-time off annually, plus 11 paid holidays
• Mortgage and auto loan discounts
• Sponsored athletic events and teams; biometrics screening, health fairs, flu shots, gym discounts
• Since its inception in 2010, the company’s own charitable arm – Elevations Foundation – has provided more than $1 million in scholarships for higher-ed, community grants and resources in times of disaster and need. In 2015, Elevations employees spent nearly 5,000 hours in the community through the credit union’s Volunteer Time Off benefit.
“At Elevations Credit Union, our employee value proposition is that this will be the best place you have ever worked. We strive to uphold this by providing worthwhile work and empowering our employees through our servant leadership philosophy. We have something truly special – the heart of a nonprofit, the savvy mind of a business, and the ‘secret sauce’ of our people and culture.” – Debra Johnston, chief people officer
5. SquareTwo Financial
DIVERSITY | GIVE-BACK | OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | FESTIVITIES
HQ: Denver
SquareTwo is dedicated to making distressed assets whole and is a leader in the $100 billion asset recovery and management industry. Through its award-winning technology, security and compliance practices, the company creates a more effective way for companies and customers to resolve their debt commitments. SquareTwo Financial is a trusted business partner to the Fortune 100. It has has been recognized for its employee benefits, training, diversity and retention.
EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:
• EcoPass
• 16 volunteer hours
• National Hot Dog Day
• Pancake breakfast for National Pancake Day
• National Guacamole Day
• Broncos tailgate party and Super Bowl party
• Breast Cancer Awareness month – donates $1 for each employee wearing pink
• Charitable giving
In 2015, SquareTwo created appreciation stations around the building to provide peers with #ThrowBackThursdays, daily shout-outs, cube recognition and an end-of-the-year celebration.
