Note: The deadline has been extended to May 29. This one is final — no more extensions!
Given all that’s going on right now, entering a workplace competition might be the farthest thing from your mind.
But here’s why you should move it to the forefront.
For years, I’ve pitched The Dallas Morning News Top 100 Places to Work as a means to attract and retain employees in an ever-shrinking labor pool. I’ve talked a lot about basking in workplace glory.
Now there is another imperative.
You need to tap into the true feelings of your workplace families, especially the ones that have been dispersed in ways none of us could have imagined just two months ago.
Your people are fearful of sickness, the welfare of their families, losing their jobs, recession and that the “new normal” really will become the norm. Anxiety and remoteness abound. They’re worried about you and your company, too.
You need to show people on the front lines that you care.
That’s why we’ve extended the deadline for you to say you want to hear what your troops have to say. You have until May 29 to nominate your company. Then you can give the go-ahead for a survey by our research partner, Energage LLC in Exton, Pa.
“In times of great change, it is more important than ever to maintain a connection among employees,” said Energage CEO Eric Rubino. “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges. The Top 100 program can be that positive outcome your company can rally around in the coming months to celebrate leadership and the importance of maintaining an employee focused culture, even during challenging times.”
It’s not that we’re begging for participation. Nearly 200 employers have signed up. In fact, Rubino tells us that the D-FW area is leading the nation in the number of entries among the 50 major media markets where Energage conducts Top 100 competitions. That list includes The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Boston Globe.
But not surprisingly, The News’ competition is a tad off from our record pace in 2019.
To put a positive spin on it: Your odds of making the list go up when the field shrinks a little.
Times will get better
I refuse to believe that North Texans are down for the count. I’ve been amazed by the selflessness and communal spirit of our business community. “We’re all in this together” isn’t a trite slogan. It is a deeply pervasive feeling that we all need to share the load to lighten the burden of others.
It stretches from the CEO down into the trenches.
Most nominations come from inside the companies — usually from human resources departments. But anyone can go online and nominate a company they feel is going above and beyond.
Maybe you’re an employee who sees the lengths that your bosses are taking to keep the company going in this time of stress.
Maybe you’re a supplier or customer who admires a company’s grace under pressure.
Participation is absolutely free. Each winner gets a summary of its survey results from Energage that will focus on areas of distinction and those that need some polishing.
The News was among the early newspaper adopters of the Top 100, running our first competition in the economic depths of 2009 — risky timing since almost nobody was hiring.
We had a successful contest then and have ever since.
Perhaps you’re among our 50 national market achievers that barely missed out on our Top 100 list last year and have worked on those Energage findings. Here’s your chance to go for it with determination.
Getting down to basics
Let’s go over the basics in more detail.
Any organization — publicly held, privately owned, nonprofit or government agency — with at least 50 employees can enter. Companies in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Wise counties are eligible.
Small companies are as likely to win as larger ones, since the competition is divided into three employee sizes with top winners in each group.
Your company doesn't have to be based here. Smaller units of big corporations are eligible as long as they have 50 or more workers in North Texas.
Energage invites the nominated companies to participate. If they agree to the challenge, their employees will be surveyed this month through May.
There is no charge to enter, but it is a serious commitment. Companies have to give us email access to every employee or agree to distribute paper surveys with return envelopes. At least 35% of your employees must respond, and you can't strong-arm them to do so.
Employees are asked to measure how true two dozen short statements are about their organizations that will measure what they really think.
Do they feel that leadership is strong enough to guide the company through challenging times? Are they being communicated with in an effective way? Would they recommend the company to a loved one? Is everyone pulling in the same direction? Are they still managing to have fun while working?
The survey takes about five minutes to complete and can be done remotely.
Our newsroom gathers information, takes photos and arranges videos for our beautiful, informative magazine and our website, dallasnews.com/top100. The highest-scoring companies are announced with much fanfare at a big event in the fall.
In full disclosure, this competition makes money for the newspaper and our research partner. The News sells advertisements in the magazine, but only after the competition is over. You will be doing your part to support community journalism.
Only a handful of newsroom people know the rankings, and we closely guard that information from others. Even our publisher, Grant Moise, learns which companies are at the top of the list along with everyone else at the awards event.
Please consider joining our celebration of life and good company.
Go to dallasnews.com/nominate or call 214-550-8155.
I look forward to looking back on this in person with you.
AT A GLANCE: Rules of engagement
Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can enter: Any organization — public, private, nonprofit or government — with at least 50 employees in the North Texas counties of Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker Rockwall and Wise
Size bands: The large category is for employers with 500 or more workers; midsized companies have 150 to 499 workers; small companies have 50 to 149
Nomination deadline: May 15
What’s in the survey: 24 short questions that can be answered by employees in about five minutes
How to nominate: Go to our Top 100 website, dallasnews.com/nominate, or call 214-550-8155
