Best Companies to Work For 2015: Edward Jones

They value the work-life balance

Lisa Ryckman //October 30, 2015//

Best Companies to Work For 2015: Edward Jones

They value the work-life balance

Lisa Ryckman //October 30, 2015//

Edward Jones

www.edwardjones.com

Location: Broomfield

Rank: 1 in the large company category

The culture: Balance of employees’ professional lives and personal ones: “The company is 100 percent employee-owned, and associates live an all-for-one-and-one-for-all philosophy. Workers are associates rather than employees, bosses are leaders and first names are preferred for all, including the managing partner. This highlights respect for the individual and emphasizes that every person’s contribution matters,” feedback stated.

Perks: Everyone shares in the firm’s profits through bonuses and for many associates, limited partnership. The firm created Offices in Transition (OIT) to support branch teams facing unusual circumstances with extra time off, special pay arrangements, a health-benefits exception, quick assistance in a natural disaster or preventative programs to head off crisis. Under the Goodknight Program, experienced financial advisers give away some accounts to help their newest colleagues.

Giving back: In Colorado, the Edward Jones-organized Norma Stewart Memorial Walk/Run in Westminster honors a branch office administrator murdered on the job by her ex-husband, and raises money for a nonprofit focused on domestic and child abuse. In 2014, Edward Jones topped all firms’ United Way employee campaigns, raising a record $5.25 million through the participation of 74 percent of home-office associates. These associates also pledged 11,000 hours of volunteer time to United Way.

The inside scoop: According to one employee: “In February 2014, a branch office administrator in Boulder was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She received the news while at work. Not only did her financial adviser provide immediate encouragement, he offered to take her home or arrange for her family to pick her up. Since then, he has given her the freedom to take off whatever time she needs for treatments, appointments or whenever she needs extra rest.”