PORTLAND, Maine - Seventy-five companies have made the list of Best Places to Work in Maine - the most in the program's 10-year history.
"More companies realize that they have to engage their employees," says Dave Vasconcelos, a human resources specialist and co-chair of the Best Places to Work in Maine program.
Vasconcelos says companies are provided with valuable feedback on how their employees really feel through an anonymous questionnaire.
"It's just, really, communicating and finding out where the hidden gems - as well as the hidden problems - may be," he says.
Participating companies are assessed by the Best Companies Group, a nationwide workplace analytics firm that reviews company policies and surveys workers. Questions asked include those about salary and benefits, hours, working conditions, management, opportunities for advancement, and employee satisfaction.
Some Maine-based companies this year include Cianbro Corporation, Hancock Lumber, New Balance, Good Shepherd Food Bank, and Allagash Brewing, as well as a number of banks, credit unions, and medical service providers.
Companies that made the list will discover their final rankings in October.