100 Best Companies to Work For
Taking the plunge at Chesapeake Energy
October 11, 2011: 5:00 AM ETSome workplaces are sink or swim. At the Oklahoma City headquarters of Chesapeake Energy, employees have a third option: scuba.
By Christopher Tkaczyk, reporter
FORTUNE -- Even among perk-laden offices, Chesapeake Energy (CHK) is renowned for the dizzying array of extras offered at its headquarters: two basketball courts, three racquetball courts, an outdoor athletic field, a climbing wall, tanning beds, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and more. (Indeed, while Chesapeake co-founder and CEO Aubrey McClendon has been criticized for his pay package $21 million and brash tactics, no one would ever say he doesn't know how to build a cushy workplace.) Employees and their families also get a 50% discount on scuba classes (normally $400), which include 10 hours each of classroom study and in-the-pool experience on nights and weekends, as well as an open-water dive at a nearby lake. The company also organizes social outings and excursions for its trained divers but the trip to Cozumel, Mexico, is an out-of-pocket expense.
100 Best Companies to Work For rank: 32
Headquarters : Oklahoma City
Employees: 12,060
Revenue: $9.3 billion
History: Founded in 1989 by Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward with 10 employees and a $50,000 investment
This article is from the October 17, 2011 issue of Fortune.
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Why crazy banking works at Umpqua
Think it's fun to work at a bank these days? At Portland, Ore.-based Umpqua, where the day may start with marshmallow dodge ball, it sure is.
By Christopher Tkaczyk, reporter
FORTUNE -- It's not the free coffee and movie screenings that make Umpqua Bank (UMPQ) such a great place to work; it's a democratic culture that requires that all employees become expert in everything, from teller functions to new accounts to small-business MORE
Aug 26, 2011 5:00 AM ET -
Kimpton's 5-star culture
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants delivers top-tier service to its guests, but it gives its employees -- and their pets -- white-glove treatment too.
By Christopher Tkaczyk, reporter
FORTUNE -- To business travelers, Kimpton, the privately owned operator of 55 hotels across the U.S., may be best known for its boutique properties like the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco and the Epic in Miami. But among its employees, the company is highly MORE
Jul 21, 2011 5:00 AM ET -
Investing in the '100 Best' beats the market, hands down
By Tara Moore, reporter associate
Investing in employees' happiness delivers shareholder happiness, too. Over the years since Fortune debuted the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 1998, the publicly-traded companies on the list have consistently and significantly outperformed the overall market. Here's a look at the stock performance of the 100 Best as compared with the S&P.
The annualized return represents the average annual rate of return for the 100 Best MORE
Jan 27, 2011 5:00 AM ET -
Undercover employee: A day on the job at three best companies
It takes an awful lot to make it onto our list of the Best Companies to Work For. But what does it take to work at one of these vaunted places? To find out, we sent our writer to three standouts. The answer: superior bag-stuffing skills, a thing for heights, and a well-developed inner ear. Read on for his account of three jobs -- and three Best Company cultures. (And MORE
Jan 20, 2011 7:00 AM ET -
AmEx: Happy workers mean happy customers
The credit card company wanted to give its customer service department a makeover. The first step: asking employees what changes they wanted to see.
By Christopher Tkaczyk, reporter
COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Headquarters: New York City
Employees: 27,265 in the U.S.; 35,340 outside
The Business: A $26.7 billion credit card and business and travel services organization
American Express (AXP) has always prided itself on its customer service; CEO Ken Chenault lists delivering superior service as one of AmEx's MORE
Aug 13, 2010 3:00 AM ET -
100 Best Companies to Work For: Unusual Perks
What perks do you wish your company offered? Post your thoughts here.
Jan 21, 2009 1:12 PM ET -
100 Best Companies to Work For: Best Benefits
What do you think of the companies on the Best Benefits list? Do you wish your company offered such perks? Would you take advantage of them? Does your company offer benefits like this - or even better ones? Are benefits a big factor you consider when deciding whether to switch jobs? Tell us what you think. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in a future story on MORE
Jan 21, 2009 1:10 PM ET -
100 Best Companies to Work For: 25 Top paying
What do you think of the companies on the Top-Paying Companies list? Do you find the paychecks they offer enviable? Or should the salaries and bonuses be even higher? Is pay the main factor you consider when deciding whether to switch jobs? Tell us what you think. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in a future story on CNNMoney.com.
Jan 21, 2009 1:08 PM ET -
100 Best Companies to Work For 2009
What do you think of this year's Best Companies to Work For list? Which are your favorite companies? What makes them great? Have you worked for one of them? Would you like to? What do you think is most important when considering where to work — pay, benefits, company culture, bosses, location? Tell us what you think. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in a future story MORE
Jan 21, 2009 1:01 PM ET
