These 16 Unique Places To Work In Virginia Make Having A Job Totally Awesome
By Anna Strock|Published July 29, 2015
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Anna Strock
Author
Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
For the last 5 years, Virginia Business has partnered with the Best Companies Groups to determine the best places to work in Virginia. To determine the rankings, the companies are evaluated on the following core principles: leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationship with supervisor; training and benefits; pay benefits; and overall employee engagement.
As it turns out, there are some pretty amazing places to work in Virginia. And what it all comes down to is treating employees like they matter…because they do!
Below, we’ll show you the top large, midsize, and small companies in Virginia, as well as tell you about a few of the more innovative companies that are going the extra mile when it comes to job satisfaction.
1. Best Large Company (250+ employees): Accounting Principals, Richmond
This professional financial recruiting firm does their best work right in their own office. With a workplace that focuses on long-term employee relationships, as well as client relationships, Accounting Principals has taken the top spot for Virginia companies with 250 or more employees for the second year in a row. Employees report that flexibility for family issues take top priority in the workplace, as well career advancement through continuing education and other training. With an emphasis on internal growth and employee retention, Accounting Professionals also provides perks like paid personal volunteer days and team volunteer projects, as well as competitive salaries, great benefits and recognition for high performers.
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2. Best Midsize Company (100-249 employees): Knight Point Systems, Reston
Knight Point Systems, a technology security firm in Reston, took Virginia’s top honors for midsize companies from Virginia Business and for large companies from the Washington Business Journal thanks to special benefits like their pension and profit-sharing plan. The company contributes 7% of an employee’s salary into the plan every year after their first 2 years of employment. Another unique feature of this firm is their focus on diversity, particularly with regards to hiring women in the typically male-dominated IT field. Knight Point credits their incredible team spirit and sense of unity for making them an employee favorite in Virginia.
3. Best Small Company (15-99 employees): Defense Point Security, LLC, Alexandria
Defense Point Security has found that when you take care of your employees, they will take care of you. This small cybersecurity company in Alexandria won Virginia’s Small Company Best Places to Work award for the second year in a row thanks to incredible benefits like 100% company paid medical insurance for employees and their families. Additionally, they offer an in-house gym, a 24-hour computer lab, quarterly performance awards and quarterly group events. Defense Point Security believes that you will find and retain the top talent when you provide a top-rated environment – and so far, that seems to be a winning strategy.
These companies have been recognized as top workplaces for the past 5 years…
This PR firm has made it to the Top 100 Best Places to Work in Virginia for the last 5 years running. And with a goal to help their employees become better people, as well as better professionals, the honors are well-deserved. Like many other companies on the list, they know that if you keep your employees happy, you keep your employees, so PadillaCRT offers extended maternity packages, flexible work schedules, daycare assistance and private offices for every one.
Another 5-timer on Virginia Business’ Best Places to Work list, Sheetz employs around 2,000 people in Virginia at 63 convenience stores around the state. Although, this company is headquartered in Pennsylvania, its contribution to the Virginia economy can’t be overlooked. Their profit sharing plan is impressive to say the least, and last year, they gave back nearly $47 million in profits through employee bonuses. Likewise, nearly 9% of the company is employee owned.
When it comes to keeping employees fit, these companies add a creative spin…
Compare.com, a start up insurance comparison site, takes mental exercise to a new level with 2 specially equipped desks – one with a treadmill, the other with an exercise bike. And if physical exercise doesn’t get the creativity flowing, the Lego wall surely will.
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7. The Consumer Electronics Association, Arlington
The Consumer Electronics Association goes all out for fitness with a on-site fitness center, as well as after work boot camps and yoga classes and free biometric screenings. With alternative work hours, great benefits and telecommuting options, this company is all about flexibility.
This commercial media company keep has a unique answer to employee personal fitness – ping pong. The firm pushes table tennis for fitness because it’s a great way to get up and move around, it gets creativity flowing, it’s interactive – and let’s be honest, it’s fun.
Creative childcare makes the difference for this Credit Union…
A new baby can make getting to work tough – from daycare challenges to separation issues in the first few months. This credit union in Woodbridge allows new parents to bring their infants in with them for up to 4 months. For the older kids, if childcare isn’t available on any given day for whatever reason, they are welcome for the day, as well.
These companies go the extra mile to keep their employees’ stress levels on-track…
As an accounting firm, this company knows all too well the pressures of tax season. So to keep their employees loose and in top form, they provide complimentary chair massages throughout the 4-month tax season.
What better way to keep workflow moving than by bringing in massage therapists on a monthly basis? The Alexandria office of this international transportation company provides 15-minute massages for employees with regularly scheduled therapists.
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These companies find that vacation can be a powerful workplace motivator…
This consulting firm organizes community service events for organizations including March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity and a startup accelerator programs for young entrepreneurs.
For the past 11 years, this federal defense contractor has supported orphanages and every August, they support a 20-person team, including some of their own employees, on a 2-week trip to Peru for construction projects and Vacation Bible School. And for the last 4 years, SimVentions has celebrated the spirit of Christmas giving by sending more than 60 pairs of shoes to Lakota Indians children on a reservation in North Dakota, as well as many other local and international service projects.
With the economy going through so many ups and downs, we can all be grateful for the jobs we have. But a company like one of these is icing on the cake. If you work at any of these places, we would love to hear about your experiences. Or, if your employer goes above and beyond in the workplace, let us know in the comments below!
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