2008 marked a milestone of sorts for Devon. That year, Fortune magazine first listed Devon among its top 100 workplaces in America, solidifying something our employees already knew: Devon, indeed, is a great place to work.
2011 marks another milestone. Devon is the only U.S. energy company to be listed among the Fortune 500, the Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies and the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Being placed on all three lists is rare. In fact, less than 20 companies of any kind hold that distinction in 2011. They include banks and investment firms, software and communications giants, restaurant and hotel chains, grocers and one energy company — Devon.
“To be included in all three categories is a tremendous achievement and is a tribute to our employees and to the culture we have created at Devon,” said John Richels, Devon’s president and chief executive officer.
For the past decade, Devon has been part of the Fortune 500, which is a ranking of America’s largest corporations. The other two lists rely upon detailed analysis of numerous criteria.
For instance, to arrive at its list of the world’s most admired companies, Fortune surveys businesspeople throughout the globe. Criteria include financial soundness, ability to attract and retain talented people, wise use of corporate assets, long-term investment value, innovation and social responsibility.
The magazine’s list of the best workplaces puts heavy emphasis on an anonymous survey of each company’s employees. It also examines a company’s culture to assess such factors as trust and credibility of leadership, atmosphere of respect and fairness, benefits, voluntary turnover and employee pride.