Top Workplaces Methodology

The top workplaces survey was conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, which reached out to employers with at least 50 employees.

The company contacted more than 800 businesses and surveyed 42 that agreed to participate.

The survey results are broken down in three categories (large, midsize and small) because smaller companies tend to score higher than larger ones.

WorkplaceDynamics ranks the companies based on their employee responses. Companies with 85 or fewer employees must have a 35 percent response rate.

For those with 2,500 or fewer employees, at least 500 employees must be sampled. For those employers with more than 2,500 employees but fewer than 5,000, 20 percent must be surveyed to be included. For companies with more than 5,000 employees, at least 1,000 surveys must be distributed.

Within the survey results, 68 percent said they feel appreciated where they work and 65 percent said they are confident about their future at the company. The same amount said their jobs make them feel as if they are part of something meaningful.

Some 70 percent said their companies are headed in the right direction; 69 percent said they have confidence in the leader of their company; and 62 percent said it operates by strong values and ethics.

Some 63 percent said their company does things efficiently and well.

Fifty-nine percent said new ideas are encouraged.

Some 56 percent said the job has met expectations since they started and 41 percent said they have the flexibility to balance their work and personal life.

Only 37 percent said their pay is fair for the work they do and 27 percent said their benefits package is good compared to others in the industry.