Fortune magazine named St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to the “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the eighth consecutive year.
The annual list distinguishes companies with exceptional workplace cultures that foster employee engagement and trust. This year marks the 21st edition of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, and employee opinion surveys determine each company’s ranking.
According to this year’s survey, 93 percent of St. Jude employees believe the hospital is a “Great Place to Work,” and 98 percent said they have pride in the work they do. St. Jude has more than 4,300 employees on its campus in the heart of Memphis.
“St. Jude is a special place for many reasons, but the talent, dedication and compassion of our employees make all the difference,” said James R. Downing, M.D., St. Jude president and chief executive officer. “Across scientific, clinical and administrative operations at St. Jude, we strive to give employees the resources and support that will help them do their best work and make the most of their careers.”
The Blueprint Series is a new forum to introduce the leadership team helping build the institution’s future.
St. Jude has initiated employee-inspired programs to foster a successful workplace culture, including the Blueprint Series, which features presentations designed to support the connection among employees and leadership groups. Each session spotlights leaders from different areas of the hospital who provide overviews of the areas they direct, explaining how their teams’ work advances the St. Jude mission. The presenters share personal anecdotes, memories and advice that has guided their careers and lives.
Several initiatives support the next group of leaders at St. Jude. One program, called Leadership Squared, is developing the next level of St. Jude leaders in their professional growth. Activities in the program engage participants through executive mentoring, exposure to hands-on strategic planning and personal development coaching. St. Jude offers several professional development courses for a variety of other employee needs.
As part of a new tradition, St. Jude employees and their family members visited sites across Memphis to volunteer for other non-profit organizations during the Martin Luther King Day of Service.
“At St. Jude, we have a strong mission that drives employees’ work,” said Dana Bottenfield, vice president of Human Resources at St. Jude. “Our goal is to help support that mission by creating an environment that offers employees strong professional development tools, encourages employees to connect with one another and helps them feel appreciated for their commitment to our mission.”
In addition to professional development, St. Jude offers employee engagement programs, including new initiatives to help employees interact with one another and the Memphis community. Some of these programs include New Memphis Institute’s Memphis 101, a session to help integrate employees new to Memphis; the Dinearounds, a social dining program where employees can get to know one another and try local restaurants; and the Memphis Mojo Tour through locally owned Backbeat Tours, which provides an entertaining way for employees to see more of Memphis’ history and attractions.
St. Jude employees bond over volunteer opportunities throughout the Memphis community, as well. In January, employees continued a legacy day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Throughout the year, St. Jude employees volunteered at the Children’s Museum of Memphis, the Carpenter’s House and St. Jude patient housing facilities.
The full list of the Top 100 companies is online at https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/100-best/2018, and the magazine will be on newsstands March 1.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.