Business NH Magazine

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Riverwoods at Exeter

Ability to cash out vacation time; flexible schedules; high school aged employees paid for good grades; emergency financial aid fund; discounted meal program; free income tax preparation; free or discounted tickets to events and business services; free use of on-site gym, pool and spa.

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Bae Systems

BAE Systems puts a premium on employee ideas and creativity It recently introduced Innovation Link, a program that invites employees to suggest ideas they'd like to explore outside of their day-to-day roles that could benefit the company. Closed Christmas Eve to after New Year's, gym discounts, 9/80 work schedule (Friday off every two weeks), reimburses up to six classes a year for full-time employees, cash awards for meeting objectives

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Comcast

Cable provider of entertainment, information and communications Benefit Highlights: $10,000 adoption assistance reimbursement, bonus plan, discount programs including vehicles; 15 percent discount on company stock; discounted television, voice and Internet services

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Hypertherm Inc.

Couch and his wife Barbara, vice president of corporate social responsibility, may have founded the company, but their leadership style is one of teamwork. Profit sharing (five-year average is 27 percent of base pay), on site gym and wellness center with exercise classes, up to six weeks paid maternity leave, subsidized cafeteria

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Graphicast Inc.

Because Graphicast practices open book management, employees could see the backlog of work shrinking. Four-day work week, profit sharing, free meetings with financial planner, contributes $500 annually to employees' flex spending accounts, employee stock ownership program, "good idea" bonuses for suggestions outside the norm, tuition reimbursement up to 100% for classes related to work

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Bittware

The company flies in remote employees and their families to take part in the annual holiday party (where anniversary gifts are given out) and for the company-wide picnic every summer. Company contributes $1.50 for every dollar employees put into a Health Savings Account, annual bonuses based on sales, quarterly bonuses, season tickets to sports and cultural events, tuition reimbursement for full- and part-time employees.

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Clark-Mortensen Agency

The company has never had layoffs and the agency partners continued that policy this year by taking a pay cut and giving employees an extra personal day in lieu of raises. Independently owned insurance agency providing insurance, financial services and employee benefits to more than 15,000 clients Benefit Highlights:

Best Companies to Work for 2009: St. Joseph Hospital

It means creating an extended illness bank, where employees donate their unused sick time to help colleagues. [...] it means having a president and CEO who meets regularly with employees to solicit feedback. Flexible scheduling (nine, 10, 12-hour shifts); can cash in unused earned time; extended illness time-off bank; discounts to theatres, skis areas and other attractions; free on-site exercise classes; tuition benefit for nursing programs up to $8,000; annual black tie service awards dinn...

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Dynamic Network Services

When at work, employees enjoy a break room stocked with healthy snacks, drinks and frozen food as they enjoy geek-friendly games or tackle group projects under the watchful eye of a life-sized Homer Simpson.

Best Companies to Work for 2009: Wire Belt Company of America

Service awards are also given out at rallies, as well as "Hey Did You Know?" announcements, where employees celebrate co-workers' accomplishments such as attaining citizenship or celebrating a wedding anniversary. Annual safety incentives, domestic partner benefits, four hours off for annual cancer screenings, paid time for community service, interest-free computer loans, vacation buy-back program, free flu shots, on-site employee garden plots, and scholarship program

Together We Can

Businesses statewide submitted extensive applications detailing their benefit packages, company culture, communication and employee development strategies, mission statement and letters of support from employees.

The Time Is Right for Voip

A hosted VoIP solution, through which the IP PBX is installed at a host site and managed by that host, offers an affordable pay-per-month option often without the upfront capital expenditures, and could be a solid solution for companies that lack their own IT resources and don't want to manage and maintain an on-premise solution.

Is It Time for a '65 Initiative'?

The University of NH's "55 Initiative," an attempt to entice college graduates to stay in the Granite State, as well as the Governor's Task Force for the Retention and Recruitment of a Young Workforce for NH are important.

How Old Is Nh?

Because these households generally include families, the state is gaining children as well. Since 2000, an average of 10 percent more children enter first grade in NH each year than were born in the state six years earlier. [...] the Granite State enjoys a net migration gain of college-educated 25 to 34 year olds, indicating there is no young adult "brain drain" taking place.

What Does It Really Cost?

The interaction between IT support professionals and users in the successful management of IT resources is critical. * Make sure technicians dispatched onsite are regular staff and not freelancers to assure familiarity and continuity. * Choose a provider that can respond with on-site support in a timely manner.

Regional Roundtable: Lakes Region

[...] when many lodging facilities and restaurants are busiest is the summer when rental rates go up, making it difficult to house employees. [...] a complex, he says, "could have a transformative effect on the region's economy, serving as a magnet and ideal site for arts organizations, economic development organizations and business incubators." Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security; NH Housing Finance Authority; U.S. Census; www.visitnh.gov

Work Doesn't Have to Be a Pain

"In the past five years, we've seen an increase in lawyers, doctors and executive staff [examining ergonomic solutions]," says Drew Rice, director of ergonomic services for Windham Group, a Manchester-based consultancy that helps clients reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. [...] don't use a checklist for making workstations ergonomically correct.

Runnin' Down a Dream

Looking forward, Sylvester would like to extend the store's service offerings from half-marathon to marathon training groups and include chiropractic, massage and other services.

Buy Local Builds Momentum in Lakes Region

BIBA is part of the 10 Percent Shift initiative, a New England grass roots campaign to have people shift 10 percent of their existing purchases from non-local businesses to local independents.

Portable Traffic Signal a Go

While two other companies sell portable light systems, one in the United States and one in Canada, Bontemps says his product costs half as much and offers unique features including radiation detection (for use at border crossings), location technology, so they can be found if stolen, and adaptability (lights can be displayed as solid squares or multidirectional arrows).

Bringing the Spa to Work

The Bodywork Cafe, based in Barnstead, travels to homes, hotels and special functions statewide providing massages, organic facials, manicures, pedicures, chiropractic services, and health and wellness coaching.