Three Newark Companies Ranked “Top Work Places”

TopWorkPlaces.com polled employees from 3,000 companies and released its 2011 list of the strongest companies, with three here in Newark. Rather than using outside “experts” or consultants to identify the companies, TopWorkPlaces.com ranked companies directly based on employees’ responses.

Top WorkPlaces partnered with independent consulting firm WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, to send surveys to 3,000 companies. The surveys asked employees for their opinions on six criteria:

1. Direction: Assessment of the company's values, leaders and strategy
2. Execution: Assessment of the how the company communicates and gets work done
3. Career: Opportunity for training and progression
4. Conditions: Assessment of the working atmosphere and working environment
5. Managers: quality of the managers and their managerial skills
6. Pay and Benefits: Assessment of employee compensation for the work done

Company: Valassis, Inc., a media, advertising and marketing services company.

• 6955 Mowry Ave., Newark
• Employees: 135
• Employee testimonial: “Valassis has allowed me to grow and improve my skills.”

Company: WORLDPAC, Inc., a distribution company of auto parts for import and domestic vehicles.

• Branch Office, 37137 Hickory St., Newark
• Employees: 469
• Employee testimonial: “I truly feel like I belong to something important. In my short time, here I am asked about my opinions, and asked to participate in decisions that will help shape us for the future.”

Company: APN Software Services Inc., a consultant organization focusing on technology and software development

• 39889 Balentine Dr., Suite 385, Newark
• Employees: 58
• Employee testimonial: “It gives me the opportunity to be creative, think out of the box and be recognized for the good work that I do.”

Company: Pet Food Express, a retail store selling pet foods and supplies.

• 39010 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont
• Employees: 189
• Employee testimonial: “What's not to love? This company has a good balance of hard work and play. We deal with people and pets all day and we get paid!”

Company: Nelson Family of Companies, a group of companies that provide recruiting and staffing services.

• 39465 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont
• Employees: 189
• Employee testimonial: “I feel listened to, am able to be creative, have leadership, have been given a chance to advance, and have been given tools to use to get there.”

Company: Lifemark Memorial Group, a company that provides services for memorial and funerals.

• Chapel of Chimes Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 32992 Mission Blvd., Hayward
• Employees: 132
• Employee testimonial: “The values of the company and the services it provides to families make it an honor to work here. I'm not only an employee, but I've selected my own arrangements here as a testimony to my commitment.”

From the surveys, Top Workplaces consistently found that the top companies used an inclusive approach to managing their employees and serving customers. It also allowed room for innovation and to operate more ethically and with higher transparency.