The Most Employee Friendly Companies In Arizona

December 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Finding a decent job will put some money in your pocket. Finding a job that you love is worth its weight in gold. Finding an employer that loves you back; priceless. While not everyone can find the dream job for the world’s best employers, a few lucky workers in Arizona have. That said, below is a list of the most employee-friendly companies in all of Arizona.

Infusion Soft1.     Infusionsoft

Voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Phoenix Business Journal for five years in a row, Infusionsoft is a technology company in Gilbert that provides a dream-culture for employees. Their office is a unique converted warehouse with an indoor football field and basketball court, indoor bicycle parking, exercise equipment and a library. In addition to the amazing facilities, the company offers phenomenal benefits, stock options and a monthly lunchtime award ceremony where one outstanding employee gets the keys to the company Nissan 370Z, $500 cash and a day off to enjoy it all.

Jawa Software2.     Jawa

Jawa is a software and media company based in Arizona that develops cutting-edge software and interactive media solutions. Above all, they have a desire to create an environment where innovation and breakthrough ideas are fostered and realized through a diversified workforce full of exceptionally talented and motivated employees.

3.     Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort

Harrah's Ak-Chin CasinoOwned by the Ak-Chin Indian community and managed by Harrah’s Entertainment, the Ak-Chin Casino and Resort has earned all kinds of awards for its employee-friendly reputation including Business Week’s 50 Best Places to Launch a Career (2007), Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Award (2009) and Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality.

In addition, the casino has amazing perks built in to their employee handbook such as customer service bonuses up to $1,000 annually, medical and dental coverage, generous paid time off, educational assistance and an impressive company-wide retirement plan.

Pella4.     Pella

Ranked number 12 on Fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Pella is a windows and doors showroom in Scottsdale with a stellar employee benefit track record. Even in this struggling economy, they have a no-layoff policy and a built-in profit sharing program to incentivize and reward employee performance.

5.     JM Family Enterprises

JM Family EnterprisesComing in just after Pella at number 14, on Fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, is JM Family Enterprises. Located in Phoenix, this sales-based employer gives their field reps an extreme sense of purpose with their remarkable profit sharing, pension plan and again, a no-layoff guarantee. Talk about feeling appreciated by your employer!

Yuma Regional Medical Center6.     Yuma Regional Medical

Located in Yuma, the Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is a progressive organization for health specialists who wish to develop their skills and career. In addition to encouraging personal growth, YRMC offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health care with dental and vision coverage, generous paid-leave-time, a tuition reimbursement program, advanced degree sponsorship, an unparalleled employer sponsored pension plan and many more extraordinary perks.

7.     Sonara Quest Laboratories

Sonora Quest LaboratoriesAlso voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Phoenix Business Journal from 2007 to 2009, Sonara Quest Laboratories is a company that places employees at the center of the organization. Aside from the friendly company culture, there is a “share the vision” employee incentive program in place where the employee’s achievements are evaluated each year and rewarded for their collective efforts in helping achieve the goals of the organization – employees have received a payout from this plan for the last 10 years.

8.     PCA Skin

PCA SkinNamed one of the Top 25 Best Workplaces for Women in 2009, PCA Skin in Scottsdale is known as an employer that helps build careers through open communication and supporting individuals toward accomplishing life goals. To prove that the organization stands behind their workforce, employees enjoy free professional skin treatments, free products, flexible work schedules, self-defense classes and exceptional career growth opportunities.

9.     TMC Healthcare

TMC HealthcareTMC is a non-profit hospital system located in Tucson that has a phenomenal reputation for treating its employees like kings. Not only is their benefits package extremely impressive but they also honor their employees in a number of ways including generous salaries and tuition reimbursement for those that wish to grow within the organization or their personal lives.

10.  Mesa Air Group Inc.

Mesa Air GroupThe Mesa Air Group is a transportation business based in Phoenix and they are known for being a great place to work because of their great employees, as well as, the perks. The Mesa Air Group offers its employees competitive salaries, opportunities for advancement and an impressive benefits package.

Filed Under: Jobs

Jobs Report For June Looks Weak, Could Be Good For Homebuyers

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Net Job Gains July 2008 - June 2010In June, for the first time since December 2009, the U.S. workforce shrank.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy shed 125,000 jobs last month even as the Unemployment Rate dropped to 9.5 percent. The drop in the Unemployment Rate is being attributed to fewer Americans looking for work.

At first glance, the jobs report looks weak but a deeper look shows something different.

Excluding the 225,000 government Census workers that recently left the workforce, the total number of employed persons actually grew by 83,000 in June. That’s 50,000 more working Americans as compared to May.

And, since the start of the year, the U.S. workforce has grown by 857,000.

Jobs growth is closely tied to economic growth because more working Americans means more disposable income which, in turn, stokes consumer spending. Job growth is better than job loss.

Consumer spending makes up the majority of the U.S. economy so as consumer spending grows, investor mentality tends to shifts toward “return on principal” (i.e. stock markets) from “safety of principal” (i.e. bond markets).

A move like this is often bad for home affordability because falling demand for bonds is tied to higher mortgage rates. In addition, with the growing number of Americans earning a paycheck, demand for homes is likely to increase, thereby helping to push home prices higher.

Overall, therefore, the jobs report should be bad for rate shoppers and home buyers in in Gilbert. Except, the markets aren’t reacting that way. For now, mortgage rates are slightly improved since the jobs report’s release.

Perhaps Wall Street is watching the wrong figures, but don’t let that be your loss. If you’re shopping for a mortgage, a home, or both, now may be your best time to make a move; while rates are still low; with home prices down; before traders change their tune.

Because when markets change, it’ll likely happen fast.

Filed Under: Jobs Tagged With: , , ,

Non-Farm Payrolls For May 2010 Helps House Affordability – For Now

June 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unemployment Rate 2007-2010On the first Friday of each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Non-Farm Payrolls data from the month prior.

The release is more commonly called “the jobs report” — a major factor in mortgage rates and monthly payments.

Especially now.

With the recession officially over and growth returning to the U.S. economy, the recovery’s next frontier is jobs. As job growth increases, home affordability should take a hit.  Here’s why:

  1. As the number of working Americans increases, so should total consumer spending
  2. As consumer spending increases, so should a return to risk-taking on Wall Street
  3. As risk-taking returns to Wall Street, bond markets should start to lose

Mortgage rates, therefore, should rise.

Furthermore, as the jobs market stabilizes and recovers, renters should be more apt to buy their first home, and homeowners should be apt to up-size.  More home buyers in Tempe means more competition for homes and higher home prices typically follow.

Job growth can be trickle-up for housing.

Today, however, the jobs data was not so strong. According to the government, 431,000 jobs were created in May, but of those new jobs, 95.4% represented temporary staffing for the 2010 Census.  The number of private-sector jobs created fell well short of expectations and Wall Street is voting with its dollars right now.  Mortgage bonds are gaining so, therefore, rates are falling.

The May 2010 jobs report may not reflect well on the economy, but home affordability in Arizona and around the country is improving because of it.

Filed Under: Jobs Tagged With: , ,

April Jobs Report Has Little Effect On Mortgage Rates

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unemployment Rate 2007-2010On the first Friday of every month, the U.S. government releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report.

More commonly called “the jobs report”, Non-Farm Payrolls is a major market mover. The number of working Americans is directly tied to the health of the economy which, in turn, drives the stock and bond markets.

In general, when jobs numbers improve, it’s good for stocks and bad for mortgage bonds. It follows, therefore, that conforming mortgage rates in Arizona rise because rates always move opposite of mortgage bond prices.

Conversely, when jobs numbers worsen, it tends to be bad for stocks and good for mortgage bonds.  Mortgage rates fall.

Today, markets are behaving a bit differently.

Despite 290,000 jobs created in April 2010 — nearly twice the expected amount — and a 40 percent upward revision of March’s numbers, mortgage rates are essentially unchanged.

In a normal environment, rates would be higher.  Today is not normal.

Today is a departure because, for all of the jobs report’s import to Wall Street, it’s less important to markets than what’s happening in Greece right now.

Greece is struggling to meet its debt obligations and its citizens are rioting.

Until a debt solution for Greece is made that sticks, unrest in the region will drive safe haven buying both domestically and abroad. U.S. mortgage bonds will gain on that movement because mortgage bonds are “safe”, and mortgage rates will fall.

Indeed, this is exactly what’s been happening since the start of April. Mortgage markets have been rallying for 5 weeks.

So, today’s jobs news is terrific for the economy and mortgage rates should be rising because of it.  But, they’re not. Consider taking advantage — lock in a rate.

Filed Under: Jobs Tagged With: , ,