W. L. Gore & Associates has earned a position on FORTUNEs annual list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the 8th consecutive year. Gore ranks 2nd overall and first among midsized companies in the magazines January 24, 2005 issue. Last year, Gore garnered the #12 position.
“When it comes to managing employees, [Gore] does things a little differently,” says Fortune. “For example, workers evaluate fellow team members each year to determine compensation.” Since 1958, Gore has avoided traditional hierarchy, opting instead for a team-based environment that fosters personal initiative, encourages innovation, and promotes person-to-person communication among all “associates,” as employees are known. This kind of unique corporate structure has proven to be a significant contributor to associate satisfaction and retention, and continues to be a factor in Gores inclusion in the magazines annual list of top companies.
According to Gore President and CEO Chuck Carroll, the selection reinforces Gores commitment to key values. “We work hard at maximizing individual potential, maintaining an emphasis on product integrity, and cultivating an environment where creativity can flourish,” Carroll said. “A fundamental belief in our people and their abilities continues to be the key to our success, and it is a tribute to our associates and their efforts that we have been honored once again.”
