REI Co-op was again recognized as a top employer, ranking 60 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list.
REI has been included on the list every year since the annual list debuted in 1998. The honor celebrates the co-op’s nearly 14,000 employees that work to connect REI members and customers to the outdoors. Rankings are determined by employee feedback measured against more than 60 elements of workplace culture including trust in leadership, respect for people and team camaraderie.
“Through awakening and enabling a life-long love of the outdoors, our employees are so passionate about the work we do,” said Raquel Karls, REI senior vice president of human resources. “This passion is what continues to unite us.”
REI noted that its combined pay and benefits are among the leaders in the retail industry, and employees enjoy a number of unique perks, including:
- Days off to play outside: Every year, co-op employees receive two “Yay Days,” where they are paid to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity, learn a new skill or help to maintain outdoor spaces through a stewardship project.
- Deals on gear: REI employees enjoy deep discounts on gear and experiences making it easier for them to try new products and build expertise to share with members. REI also provides employees with “adventure grants” to purchase gear to try something new outdoors.
- Competitive benefits: REI employees receive some of the best benefits in the retail industry. Employees who average more than 20 hours per week over one year are eligible for healthcare and retirement benefits.
Other retailers on the list include: Wegmans, 3; CarMax, 20; Publix, 39; Nugget Market, 79; Sheetz, 80; and Custom Ink, 92
Among manufacturers in the active lifestyle space, W. L. Gore & Associates was the only company to land in the Top 100, at 83.
Photo courtesy REI Co-op
