San Diego's Best Places to Work 2006

SIX MONTHS. That’s how long ago our search for the region’s best workplaces began. First, we had to get out the word about our survey to the 139,159 employers here. Then we had to determine the judging criteria. What makes a company a great place to work? We enlisted the help of the human-resources pros at Employers Group. To arrive at a company score, they looked at a broad range of factors that contribute to workplace satisfaction. They considered the obvious: How much does the gig pay? What’s the retirement plan? But they also dug deeper to measure less-tangible attributes: How valued and appreciated do employees feel? Do their opinions count in the decision-making process? Is it a fun place to be?

We narrowed the list to 104 semifinalists, then asked a random sampling of workers at each company to complete an employee satisfaction survey. We combined the scores from the survey with the company score to determine the 10 best workplaces in three size categories.

The smallest company on our list employs 40 people; the largest, 10,000. From a tiny Internet start-up to a titanic healthcare provider, we found it takes a lot more than a fat paycheck and a 401(k) to make for a satisfied, productive employee. “We’re seeing employers ratcheting up and offering more when it comes to compensating their employees,” says Gary Moss, labor market information specialist with the San Diego Workforce Partnership. So if you’re feeling uninspired and underpaid, read on. There are some great places to work in San Diego.

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