Periodically Fortune magazine scrutinizes hundreds of companies, surveying employees and reviewing each company's stated philosophy, employee handbooks, and other materials to find America's 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Take a look through these top companies of 2008 with an Austin presence. Retail, high tech, and financial services are some of the fields represented here. Some may only have small offices or a few retail locations here while others, like Whole Foods Market and National Instruments, are based in Austin.
Want to own your own business? Edward Jones has investment representatives setting up branch offices where they want to work. Job sharing, paid sabbaticals, and more offices than there are Starbucks cafes makes them an attractive employment opportunity. They were #4 on the
Fortune list of Best Companies to Work For in 2008.
Austinites seem to have a love-hate relationship with this national chain of coffee shops -- some love 'em, some hate 'em. But they ranked #16 on the
Fortune list in 2007 and moved up to #7 in 2008. For employees they offer full benefits for some qualifying part-time workers.
Headquartered here in Austin, Whole Foods management sets the tone by setting a salary cap on top execs. For other employees, the 100% health care coverage is a nice benefit. In addition to the downtown store, you'll find a Whole Foods Market in the Gateway Market of North Austin next to REI, another "best company to work for." In 2008 Whole Food made the
Fortune list at #16.
After Houston and Dallas, Austin is the #3 of 17 U.S. Locations for this homebuilder who gives half his pay to charity. The company experienced a one year job growth of 19% in 2007. They made the list at #17 in 2008.
As a consumer I love this place. They have so many cool gadgets and organizing ideas for every part of the home. Evidently employees like it there too because The Container Store repeatedly does well in the
Fortune lists. Employees earning 50% or more above the retail industry average and the company offers "family-friendly" shifts so that mom or dad can pick up and drop off the kids at school. Headquarterd in Coppell, Texas, there's a store near the Arboretum in North Austin. Would you be a good fit? "
Most employees at The Container Store are college educated and most were customers first." In 2008 The Container Store was #20 on the list.
If you want to go high tech, SAS provides software and services to business, government, and education. Their World Headquarters is in Cary, North Carolina but they do have an office in Austin if you want to stay local. Job sharing, 100% health care coverage, and good hourly wages helped to land SAS at #48 on the
Fortune list in 2007 and #29 in 2008 with Austin in the top 3 of their 40 locations. In 2008 SAS was also one of the 25 best paying companies.
Based in San Antonio, they have a small Austin office. They have an Open Book policy that lets employees in on all the company's financial issues. They made the list at #32.
While the hourly wages might not be at the top of the rung, even part-timers can get health benefits at this outdoor equipment retailer. In Austin you'll find REI next to Whole Foods in the Gateway Market (North Austin) or downtown not far from the Whole Foods at 6th and Lamar. They made the
Fortune list at #34 in 2008.
Shopping at Barton Creek Square and employee diversity (41% minorities, 73% women) combine at this upscale fashion store chain headquartered in Seattle. For 2008 they were on the
Fortune list at #36.
I loved the ease of buying our truck through CarMax. They're based in Richmond, Virginia but if you want to be a used car salesman without the usual stereotypes, consider working at an Austin CarMax. The company ranked at #46 in 2008.
