How Top Workplaces 2010 was compiled

Welcome to Top Workplaces 2010, an extensive effort to uncover the best employers in the Philadelphia region - from the point of view of workers themselves.

The Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com enlisted WorkplaceDynamics L.L.C., of Exton, to ask employees to rate their companies and their bosses by responding to statements such as "I have confidence in the leader of this organization," "My manager listens to me," and "My pay is fair for the work I do."

WorkplaceDynamics contacted 1,505 employers in the region with at least 50 workers and invited them to participate. Ultimately, 170 companies employing 131,384 people in the Philadelphia area were surveyed.

Of that total employee number, 61,579 received surveys, and 34,616 responded either on paper or online.

The required response rate varied depending on employer size. For employers with fewer than 100 employees, WorkplaceDynamics required at least 30 responders. For employers with 100 to 400 employees, a response rate of at least 30 percent was required. For employers with more than 400 employees, at least 120 responders were required.

After the survey was completed, WorkplaceDynamics ran statistical tests to look for any questionable results.

The final product of the survey is our list of the top 100 workplaces, which is made up of the 25 highest-ranked large employers, 35 midsize organizations, and 40 small firms.

Finally, we went back to those companies and asked them to tell us how they have dealt with some key issues, including how they have managed in the economic downturn, what they have done to maintain workplace diversity, and what they do to foster fun and reward good work.

We learned a lot, including that many companies have strove to keep their people, and even to expand through the recession, and that bosses can get creative with the little perks that make showing up for work tolerable, or even a delight - at least some of the time. Enjoy.

   - Reid Kanaley, editor
 Top Workplaces 2010