Calling your business a great place to work is one thing. Knowing your employees think it's a great place to work is another.
Nominations are now open for the sixth annual Knox News and Knox.biz Top Workplaces awards. Top Workplaces recognizes companies, organizations and institutions in East Tennessee with outstanding work cultures.
"Never turn down an opportunity to get feedback from your team," said Mike DiStefano, Knoxville president of Pinnacle Financial Partners, which placed first in the midsize category in 2021. "It’s nice to win awards like Top Workplaces, but it’s even better to learn from the survey responses and make any adjustments you need to improve the associate experience. How else will you know if you’re on the right track or not?"
Large winner 2021:First Horizon puts employees first, and it pays
Midsize winner 2021: Pinnacle Financial Partners lets employees peak
Small winner 2021: Maple Hall and Babalu recruit for potential
Through survey firm Energage, employees of nominated companies anonymously review their employers. The best of the best receive the designation of Top Workplaces.
Public and private organizations, nonprofits and government entities with more than 35 employees can participate if they're located in Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, Sevier or Union counties.
Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 18 and can be made at knoxnews.com/twnominate or by calling 865-407-5068.
How does Top Workplaces work?
Energage partners with media outlets in 61 metro areas to rank Top Workplaces. In 2021, the firm surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations.
Energage has conducted surveys since 2006.
A business can be nominated by anyone, and once it is Energage will send a 24-question survey to its employees and tabulate the results of the surveys, which are voluntary and anonymous. Employees can fill out these surveys from January to April.
Knox News and Knox.biz will announce the East Tennessee Top Workplaces in June at a virtual event and in a special magazine.
Who won East Tennessee Top Workplaces last year?
In 2021, Energage invited 590 area companies to participate and 73 accepted. Of those, a record 50 companies were named Top Workplaces based on the results of anonymous employee surveys. More than 8,800 employees filled out surveys.
First Horizon took first place in the large business category; Pinnacle Financial Partners won the midsize category; and Maple Hall / Babalu was named the winner of the small business category.
The program also awards companies for special achievements in leadership, communication, work-life balance and other categories.