New Belgium Named “One of America’s Best Places To Work 2012” By Outside Magazine

I knew I should have worked in the brewery biz….this from New Belgium & Outside Magazine:

Ft. Collins, CO, August 13, 2012 – Outside Magazine’s fifth annual “Best Places to Work” list includes New Belgium Brewing once again. New Belgium ranks fifth out of 100 selected companies. Profiles of the top-ten-performing small, medium, and large companies will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands August 14, 2012. The full list of 100 is now available at outsideonline.com/bestplacestowork.
        
Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States. Participating companies were sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs. The experts at the Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles, while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.
        
        In past years, Outside has highlighted 50 outstanding companies. This year, Best Companies Group determined that there were so many top-quality applicants that the list needed to be expanded. Outside editors agreed, and doubled the size of the list.
        
“New Belgium fosters a high involvement culture where co-workers are encouraged to bring their best selves every day,” said New Belgium Spokesperson, Bryan Simpson. “Through employee ownership and open book management, we have a highly engaged work force working at top form. It’s an honor to receive this recognition.”
 
Some of the ways that New Belgium strives to fit folly into the day include offering on-site yoga, a volleyball court, climbing wall, indoor slide, foosball table and ping pong.  A New Belgium cruiser bike is awarded to co-workers on their first anniversary of employment; after five years with the brewery, co-workers enjoy an all-expense paid pilgrimage to Belgium to learn more about beer culture. New Belgium also practices open-book management so all co-workers experience the rights and responsibilities of ownership.
        
“We’re thrilled to celebrate all 100 of these forward-thinking companies,” says Michael Roberts, Senior Executive Editor of Outside. “They believe success depends on helping their employees live more active and fulfilling lives. The kinds of benefits they’re providing—free fitness classes, flexible hours, subsidized healthy meals, lots of time out of the office—result in a more productive and engaged staff.”