Michael Burke
The Journal Times
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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RACINE — Two local companies — both Johnson-family owned — are among the 100 best places to work in America, according to Fortune magazine’s latest list.
Johnson Financial Group was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s list for 2008. SC Johnson ranked No. 81.
It was Johnson Financial’s second appearance on the annual list and SCJ’s ninth time, and seventh consecutive time, on the list since it debuted in 1998.
Johnson Financial, which has its headquarters Downtown in the Johnson Building, 555 Main St., employs about 750 people in this county. According to Fortune, its employment grew by 4 percent last year.
Johnson Financial is the parent company of Johnson Bank, Johnson Insurance and other financial service businesses. It moved up from No. 37 on the previous year’s Fortune list to the 25th spot last year.
“We did it again,” Johnson Financial President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Hansen said in a news release. “In this tough economy it’s an even greater honor to be named to this prestigious list two years in row.”
He added, “We firmly believe being a workplace of choice for our associates (employees) translates into our being the financial institution of choice for our clients.”
Johnson Financial employees donated an average of 50 hours of volunteer community service last year, the company reported.
The late Sam Johnson, then the fourth-generation leader of SCJ, founded Johnson Financial more than 35 years ago. His daughter, Helen Johnson-Leipold, is the current company chairman.
Her brother, Fisk Johnson, is chairman and CEO of SCJ, which employs about 3,600 people in Racine County.
“What makes this recognition so special is that it’s based on the opinions of the people who work here,” he stated about the latest ranking. “We’re committed to ensuring a culture of respect, fairness, integrity and trust, and when the people of SC Johnson say we’re succeeding, that is incredibly inspiring and gratifying.”
Fortune specifically credited SC Johnson for their extended annual holiday break, competitive salaries and having the lowest turnover. Also noted was the company’s world-class fitness center, job sharing and telecommuting opportunities.
SCJ dropped from No. 27 last year to 81st this year. According to Fortune, its employment dipped by 1 percent from 2007-08. But company spokeswoman Kelly Semrau noted that the list is highly competitive.
“We still are celebrating that in a tough economic time that we are one of the top 100 companies and one of the very few manufacturers on that list,” she said.
“Also we have no competitors on the list.”
SCJ is a 123-year old company with more than $8 billion in annual sales. It employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries.
The complete list of top-rated companies is available on newsstands in the Jan. 26 issue of Fortune and at http://www.fortune.com this week.
Fortune and the Great Place to Work Institute surveyed employees from more than 353 candidate companies.
The list is based on a questionnaire, an employee survey and a written portion including stories from employees.
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