Computerworld Announces List of 100 'Best Places to Work in IT'
June 16, 2009
Patricia Marroquin--HispanicBusiness.com
|
|
|
|
General Mills tops the list of Computerworld's top 100 "Best Places to Work in IT 2009," it was announced Monday. It's the 16th year that Computerworld, a Web site and weekly publication focusing on technology news and information in the information technology industry, has ranked the top 100 work environments for tech professionals.
Other employers in the top 20 are: Genentech Inc., San Diego Gas & Electric Co., University of Pennsylvania, Monsanto Co., Securian Financial Group Inc., Verizon Wireless, JM Family Enterprises Inc., USAA, University of Miami, American Fidelity Assurance Co., Marriott International Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc., Quicken Loans Inc., Raytheon Co., Quintiles Transnational Corp., Ohio Health, Michelin North America Inc., SAS Institute Inc., and Rackspace US Inc.
A comprehensive questionnaire was given to more than 27,000 IT workers seeking information about companies' offerings in such areas as benefits, diversity, training, retention and career development. Their responses were a major factor in determining the final list.
Other factors taken into account were turnover rates of IT staff; average salary and bonus increases; and the percentage of IT staffers receiving promotions.
Computerworld was impressed with the implementation by No. 1 General Mills of a collaboration tool known as Office Communicator. It features such technologies as instant messaging, voice, chat and desktop sharing. General Mills' IT division helped the company's Betty Crocker business unit launch a marketing program to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Groups led by IT employees include IS Diversity Champions and Women in IS. Golden Valley, Minn.-based General Mills assists in battling hunger through various efforts, including a "Pound-for-Pound Challenge" venture with the NBC weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser." The employees have also taken their skills to Africa to help create local nutrition programs.
A sampling of statistics on General Mills reported by Computerworld: Women make up 36 percent of the IT staff; 48 percent of IT managers are women; 15 percent of IT staff are minorities; 9 percent of IT managers are minorities; the training budget per IT employee in 2008 was $4,500; 6 training days were offered for each IT employee in 2008; and there was 4 percent turnover in IT employees in 2008.
Computerworld's complete "Best Places" report can be found here.
Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2009. All rights reserved.
|
