Publix Named 1 Of America’s Best Companies To Work For

LAKELAND, FL — Publix is one of America's best companies to work for. That’s according to Fortune magazine, which recently named the Lakeland-based chain to its 2017 list of top employers in the country.

Tech giant Google earned No. 1 rankings for the eighth time in 11 years, followed by Rochester, New York-based Wegmans grocery stores.

The new version of Fortune's Best Companies to Work For features 12 companies that have made the ranking every year since the list began 20 years ago, including Publix, REI and Goldman Sachs.

Five newcomers to Fortune's list in 2017 are: Pinnacle Financial Partners, SAP America, Delta Air Lines, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and AT&T.

Publix earned 21st place in this year's ranking, up from 67th place last year.

“The largest employee-owned company in the country, this grocery chain with a ‘family’ feel gives staff a ‘great opportunity to retire worry-free,’” Fortune explained of its ranking. It also noted that Publix has “dozens of workers over the age of 90.”

Helping Google to retain its top-of-the heap ranking was its move to increase parental leave after company executives learned that mothers were leaving at higher rates. And Fortune says the company culture: "Town halls held by black Googlers and allies, support for transgender workers, and unconscious-bias workshops (­already attended by more than 70 percent of staff) help foster what employees say is a 'safe and inclusive' workplace at this hive of high performers."

To select the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune and Great Place to Work survey more than 230,000 people. They anonymously assess their workplace, including the quality of their leaders, support for their personal and professional lives, and their relationships with colleagues.

Fortune says the Top 10 Best Companies to Work For are:

1. Google

2. Wegmans Food Markets

3. The Boston Consulting Group

4. Baird

5. Edward Jones

6. Genentech

7. Ultimate Software

8. Salesforce

9. Acuity

10.Quicken Loans

Other Florida companies on the Top 100 list are:

• Ultimate Software, No. 7
• JM Family Enterprises, No. 55
• Baptist Health South Florida, No. 97

View the full list here.

Patch’s Deb Belt contributed to this story.

Patch file photo