Best Companies To Work For: Maryland Businesses On Fortune's List

BETHESDA, MD — From all-expense-paid trips to enormous bonuses, great perks and benefits, these companies are the best to work for in the United States. Fortune just released its 2018 list of 100 Best Companies To Work For, and two Maryland-based companies snagged a spot, along with companies in the Washington, D.C., region.

The No. 1 company on the list was Salesforce, which Fortune credits for forging an “unusual corporate culture from the beginning.” Salesforce has paid out $5.5 million to employees who have referred new hires and they help strong performers find new challenges.

The grocery chain Wegmans was No. 2 on the list. Fortune says employees at the company find the work fulfilling and it gives them a sense of purpose. A survey of customer loyalty released in May 2017 by Market Force said that America's favorite grocery store was a tie between Maryland favorite Wegmans and Florida-based Publix. Wegmans has a handful of stores in Maryland: Abingdon, Columbia, Crofton, Frederick, Germantown, Hunt Valley, Owings Mills and Woodmore near Bowie.

The state's highest-ranking employer is Bethesda-based Marriott International, which came in at No. 35 nationwide, down from No. 33 a year ago. "The world’s largest hotel company, still in the midst of its integration with Starwood, has preserved its prized culture as it’s scaled, according to Fortune. Employees feel that 'at Marriott, we are family' —even when there are 136,000-plus of them. They say they feel 'treated as individuals and not one large machine' and embrace the company’s commitment to diversity.

"And, in an era when many companies seem to be falling all over their youngest workers, Marriott showers its longest-serving employees with special perks: veterans of 25 years—who number more than 10,000—get lifetime free stays at Marriott properties (pending availability), even after they leave," Fortune says. "Those who’ve been at the company for 50 years—16 at last count—get that too, plus a cash award of $5,000."

As for No. 87-ranked Power Home Remodeling Group of Greenbelt, Fortune says: "This home exterior remodeling company sees a direct link 'between employees’ success and that of the company,' says one PHR employee. Management genuinely cares about the workforce, and leadership opportunities are unmatched. To wit: More than 80% of the company’s top-ranking employees rose up through its ranks, including co-CEOs Corey Schiller and Asher Raphael."

These are all the companies with Maryland, DC and northern Virginia locations on the list (Maryland-based corporations bolded).

• No. 6: Kimpton Hotels, Washington DC
• No. 11: Deloitte, Rosslyn, Virginia
• No. 17: Capital One, McLean, Virginia
• No. 24: Camden Property Trust, District of Columbia
• No. 29: KPMG LLP, Washington DC, and Tysons Corner, Virginia
• No. 33: Hilton Worldwide Inc., McLean, Virginia
• No. 34: CarMax, Washington, District of Columbia
• No. 35: Marriott International, Bethesda, Maryland
• No. 37: SAS, Arlington, Virginia
• No. 42: Navy Federal Credit Union, Vienna, Virginia
• No. 52: EY, McLean, Virginia
• No. 58: Perkins Coie LLP, Washington, D.C.
• No. 83: Mars Inc., McLean, Virginia
• No. 87: Power Home Remodeling Group, Greenbelt, Maryland

Methodology

To be considered for the list, a company has to have at least 1000 employees, according to Fortune. The list measured companies in the U.S. on characteristics like innovation and people-focused programs. Fortune scores each company on an analysis of anonymous employee responses to a survey along with an evaluation of company programs and practices. You can read more about Fortune's methodology here.

Fortune said it received feedback from more than 315,000 employees to determine the winners. Here's the top 10 companies on the list:

1. Salesforce
2. Wegmans Food Markets
3. Ultimate Software
4. The Boston Consulting Group
5. Edward Jones
6. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
7. Workday
8. Genentech
9. Hyatt
10. Kimley-Horn

See the full list from Fortune here.
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